[ad_1]
A museum in London has been apologized for the word "womxn" in a marketing campaign for an upcoming workshop which was intended to champion inclusivity.
Promotional material for the four-day Daylighting program, hosted by The Wellcome Collection in London, edited by the "Wellcome Collection Archives".
After being inundated with criticisms on Twitter Labeled "Demeaning and insulting to women" by one user, the museum revealed it was sorry for making "the wrong call".
While it is not entirely clear from where the word "womxn" originates, the museum explains its use derived from a desire to "create a space / come that includes various perspectives.
"It was agreed during our conversations with collaborators as the program developed," reads a tweet posted by the museum last week.
In its original promotional material online, the museum linked the word to a definition on Urban Dictionary Written in 2016 which explains it as shedding light on the "prejudice, discrimination and institutional barriers" that adding the term shows "that womxn are not the extension of men (as hinted by Adam and Eve) ".
The site also claims that it was "more intersectional than womyn" – a spelling adopted by feminists in the 1970s to avoid the inclusion of "men" – "because it includes trans women and women of color."
Hundred of Twitter uses vehemently derided the museum's use of the word, asking why they did not just use "women" instead, arguing that it would have been more inclusive choice.
"This is ridiculous," wrote one person.
"And you are supporting it by linking to Urban Dictionary? Seriously? As far as I know, the word 'women' has always included women of color. Correct me if I'm wrong. "
"Who exactly is this meant to include? " asked another.
"Trans women call themselves women, non-binary people do not call themselves women at all.
"The only thing that comes to mind is that 'both' woman 'and' women ', which implies that there are plural women."
The Wellcome Collection's intention for "womxn" to also include transgender women, however, Jennie Kermode, chair of the Trans Media Watch group said this is not a term they would ever use.
"We just want to write about it because we feel it's important for people to know that trans women are women.
"Kermode told the BBC.
Her comments were echoed by MP Jess Phillips, who tweeted: "I've never been a woman who was offended by the word woman being used, so I'm not sure why this keeps happening."
Free-thinking support journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds
A spokesman for the Wellcome Collection responded to the criticisms with an apologetic statement, saying "we should have thought about this issue when communicating about the event.
"We made a mistake, and we should not have used it. We're sorry that we made the wrong call. "
[ad_2]Source link
