Dr. Kristin Small, an Australian anatomy professor and specialist obstetrician, advocates renaming certain body parts deemed “irrelevant and misogynistic” within the global health community.
She targets common terms like Achilles tendon and Adam’s apple, arguing their male-centric naming fails to represent all genders. Dr. Small believes updating anatomical language fosters inclusivity and accuracy, especially in medical education and practice. As an obstetrician, she’s sensitive to language’s impact and educates her students accordingly. Dr. Nisha Khot, of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, supports this effort, noting younger doctors’ openness to inclusive terminology. Examples like “hysterectomy” being replaced with “uterectomy” illustrate the shift away from gender-biased language. The movement extends beyond women’s health, aiming for understandable, equitable terms in healthcare. Challenging names honoring figures with problematic pasts, like the speculum, shows a broader commitment to historical awareness and inclusivity.
