The GOOD WORDS campaign led by Ouch!, a health creative studio, aims to tackle the increasing censorship of women’s health language on digital platforms. Focused on terms like “vulva,” “uterus,” and “period,” these essential words are flagged by algorithms, making it difficult for women to find accurate information online. This initiative seeks to counter the control of vocabulary by providing freely downloadable impactful posters for public spaces and online communities, fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue around women’s health issues.
Digital censorship of health content isn’t a new phenomenon but has been a persistent challenge. Similar initiatives have surfaced previously, attempting to address biased algorithmic moderation across social media platforms. The lack of transparency and effective appeal mechanisms has been criticized by various health professionals and organizations in other campaigns, highlighting a pattern of ongoing silence from these platforms regarding action to correct this issue.
How are Women’s Health Terms Being Censored?
According to the CensHERsip White Paper, an alarming 95% of women’s health businesses in the UK experience their educational content being suppressed by digital platform algorithms. These platforms often classify key terms related to anatomy and menstrual health as “adult content” or “unprofessional,” while male health terms remain largely unaffected. This biased approach presents a significant barrier to women’s access to vital health information online.
What Steps Have Been Taken Against This Suppression?
In response to this issue, over 190 organizations and professionals signed an open letter in June pleading with social media giants to stop censoring women’s health content. Despite following formal complaints under the EU Digital Services Act, action from the platforms has been slow, revealing a gap between advocacy efforts and tangible outcomes. This ongoing struggle underscores the necessity for the GOOD WORDS campaign, which hopes to break the silence and foster awareness.
Research conducted by CASANEGRA Studio indicates that this goes beyond mere erasure, illustrating the development of an “euphemism economy.” Rather than using medically accurate terms, women resort to coded language to navigate the risks of censorship. Euphemisms such as “down there” or “that time of the month” have become common, undermining clear communication and understanding about female health.
Carrie Kenyon, founder of Ouch!, emphasized the symbolic importance of traditional media in fighting online censorship.
“There is something refreshing about a traditional print campaign as a call to arms against the online censorship of women’s health. Using a range of visual icons, and with inspiration taken from the words themselves, we created this series to signal that all words associated with women’s health are first and foremost good words.”
Reclaiming digital spaces through community efforts, the campaign seeks to fill the informational void left by algorithmic suppression.
Carrying the conversation beyond digital platforms, GOOD WORDS aims to rekindle dialogues in tangible environments—doctor’s offices, libraries, and community centers. The campaign’s focus on both print and digital ensures that these critical discussions are not limited by the confines of algorithmic biases.
Efforts like the GOOD WORDS campaign can empower women by challenging algorithmic censorship and encouraging open conversations around women’s health topics. Offering both print and digital resources allows users to access necessary information, thus contributing to improving health literacy and countering the culture of silence. Future efforts could benefit from closer collaboration between technology companies and health advocates to ensure that necessary women’s health content is accessible and free from unwarranted censorship.
