In order to acknowledge people’s identities, it is essential to respect the names and pronouns that they prefer to give themselves. Nevertheless, a significant number of people continue to oppose this practice, sometimes because of outmoded views or a blatant disregard for gender equity.
The Bennett In October of 2020, Kaspar-Williams, who is 37 years old, and her husband Malik became parents to their son Hudson through the procedure of a cesarean section. Kaspar-Williams, who now identifies as non-binary and uses both he/him and they/them pronouns, encountered severe difficulties while he was in the hospital. At the time, he identified as male and used the pronouns he through him. According to the Daily Mail, nurses frequently misinterpreted his gender and referred to him as a mother rather than a father.
After Kaspar-Williams came to the realization that he was transgender in 2011, he started the process of transitioning in 2014. Although he underwent surgery on his upper body, he decided against undergoing treatments on his bottom body. Kaspar-Williams gained a lot from the experience of being pregnant and giving birth, but it was also challenging for her. The continuous misgendering of him by medical workers, which ignored his gender identification, was an especially disheartening for him.
During contacts with Kaspar-Williams, the nursing staff continued to incorrectly identify him as both male and female, despite the fact that his gender was clearly indicated on medical papers. The continuous struggle to acknowledge that childbirth and gender identity are not fundamentally linked was brought to light by this unique event.
The fact that Kaspar-Williams was misgender during childbirth was a source of sorrow for him, and he emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the conceptions of gender and motherhood. Despite the fact that he had indicated “male” on the medical documentation, he expressed his dissatisfaction to the New York Post, emphasizing the discomfort he felt when he was called “mom.”
As Kaspar-Williams put it, “Being born with a uterus does not make conceiving or carrying a child a certainty.” This is because no one can ever truly know whether or not it is feasible to have children unless they actually try! The notion that all women are capable of becoming mothers, that all mothers bear their children, or that all persons who carry children are mothers is a false equivalency. This is the reason why it is so crucial that we break the definition of ‘womanhood’ in terms of’motherhood.’
Kasper-Williams’s experience highlights the intricacies of identity and the crucial need of respecting people’ self-identification by highlighting the fact that he chose to embark on his pregnant journey after separating the ideas of biological functions from gender identity.
In the context of medical settings, the experience of Kaspar-Williams serves as a jarring reminder of the importance of increased awareness and sensitivity. Our awareness of and respect for the multiplicity of genders must also change in tandem with the progression of society. One of the most important steps we can take toward creating a world that is more accepting and respectful is to respect the pronouns and names that individuals choose to use.
A striking illustration of the need for change in how we see and approach gender in all facets of life, particularly in crucial areas such as healthcare, is provided by his experience of going through pregnancy and giving birth to his child. Rather than focusing solely on the experiences of a single person, this narrative explores the wider ramifications of how we interact with and respect the identities of people from all walks of life.
