hi, so i recently discovered im more left wing (democratic) than right wing (republican), but im still not the most politically correct. earlier today we were discussing abortion and i said i felt bad for the women who the anti abortion people affect, but my friend corrected me and said i meant “people who get pregnant”, because men (like trans men but still men) can get pregnant. and not all women get pregnant so it doesnt affect them. she said it gently but i feel like an ass</3
first of all, you’re more than fine, and secondly, people should already understand what you mean when you say “women” in the context of abortion.
the word “woman” has been used historically and socially to refer to uterus-owners, and we have unfortunately not found a good word to replace it since the word “woman” has now been repurposed for the gender role that those people play in society.
it’s a super complex social and language issue that’s only recently been actively discussed, and no one is ever to blame for trying to catch up from the social norms they’ve grown up with.
People absolutely understand what you mean, but using inclusive language is really important for supporting marginalized communities.