Twitch backtracks after outcry for using ‘gender neutral’ term ‘womxn’on March 2, 2021 at 3:19 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The streaming platform said it had changed its spelling of “women” to be more gender neutral.

Streaming platform Twitch is popular with gamers

image copyrightGetty Images

Streaming platform Twitch has backtracked on a new policy to change its spelling of “women” after criticism from transgender communities.

The company had said it would use the term “womxn” in order to be more gender neutral in its language.

But LGBT communities online called the change transphobic because it suggested trans women were not women.

“We’re committed to growing from these experiences… and ensuring we’re inclusive to all,” the company tweeted.

“Womxn” has become a popular alternative word for people who say that the term “women” has patriarchal roots. Some believe the term is inclusive of trans women and some non-binary people, but that is contested.

The spelling “stems from a longstanding objection to the word woman as it comes from man, and the linguistic roots of the word mean that it really does come from the word man,” Dr Clara Bradbury-Rance, fellow at King’s College London, told the BBC in 2018.

It echoes the use of the word “Latinx” in some Spanish-speaking communities in an attempt to move away from the traditional use of genders in the language.

Twitch, a platform that is especially popular with gamers, announced its decision to swap “women” for “womxn” as part of its celebration of Women’s History Month.

“Join us in celebrating and supporting all the Womxn creating their own worlds, building their communities, and leading the way on Twitch,” it said in a now-deleted tweet.

But the company faced a fierce backlash online as some suggested the company was making an explicit distinction between women and trans women.

“With womxn you’re just separating them more, you’re not being inclusive, you’re excluding them from women,” wrote one Twitter user.

1px transparent line

“This is in fact transphobic and really outdated,” another wrote.

1px transparent line

On Tuesday Twitch apologised, writing “we want to assure you that we have, and will continue to, work with the LGBTQIA+ community. We’re still learning.”

“Our good intentions don’t always equate to positive impact, but we’re committed to growing from these experiences, doing better, and ensuring we’re inclusive to all,” the company said.

2px presentational grey line
Analysis box by Ben Hunte, LGBT correspondent

Whilst Twitch was attempting to be more inclusive with this initiative, the language alienated LGBT people and caused a wave of criticism.

Many social media users are still confused about who exactly Twitch’s “all the womxn” approach was actually aimed at. Trans women call themselves women, and many have fought to do so. Non-binary individuals do not refer to themselves as women at all.

Twitch employees have since flagged that there was an internal backlash about the decision to use the term “womxn” weeks before it was revealed on social media. One worker claimed that “everyone” said it was a bad idea, and people called it “offensive”, but bosses still went ahead with the public release.

Others have branded this a “marketing stunt”, suggesting that the hype and attention caused by the term is exactly what those behind the initiative wanted.

2px presentational grey line

In 2018 the London museum Wellcome Collection faced backlash online after it used the term in an advert for an event about women’s writing. Critics, including numerous high-profile female journalists, said the term was “insulting and demeaning” to women.

2px presentational grey line
- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

US PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy sets clubhouse lead at Southern Hillson May 19, 2022 at 7:05 pm

Rory McIlroy birdies his final hole to reach five under par and set the early pace on day one of the US PGA Championship.

Amazon rainforest reaching tipping point, researchers sayon March 8, 2022 at 1:06 am

The world's largest rainforest is fast losing its ability to bounce back from human impacts, researchers say.Image source, Getty ImagesThe Amazon rainforest is moving...

Nasa successfully flies small helicopter on Marson April 19, 2021 at 10:53 am

The Ingenuity drone completes the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another world.The American space agency has successfully flown a small helicopter...

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross in job ‘sleaze’ rowon November 13, 2021 at 12:17 am

Douglas Ross failed to declare earnings as an MSP and as a football referee for the SFA.Image source, PA MediaThe leader of the Scottish...

Heartstopper: Teen LGBTQ+ Netflix drama pushing the envelopeon April 22, 2022 at 12:42 am

Stars of Alice Oseman's TV adaptation discuss TikTok, bullying, inclusivity and mental health.