Talk:Woman

Edit request

Can we change

"Women are at greater risk of certain diseases like breast cancer, and at lower risk of other diseases like lung cancer. Genetically, women inherit typically a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent." 

into

"Females are at greater risk of certain diseases like breast cancer, and at lower risk of other diseases like lung cancer. Genetically, females typically inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent".?

The rationale is that in the original definition of this article, a woman is an adult human female, where female can be used both in the meaning of sex and gender. The concept of woman obviously includes the subcategory of trans woman, therefore phrases which generalise statements about the female sex into women are incorrect. It isn't "women" who are at a greater risk of certain diseases, it is females. It isn't "women" who genetically typically inherit a pair of X chromosomes, it is females.

Either that, or we can modify and include notions about trans women while maintaining woman-centered language.

Thus

"Women are at greater risk of certain diseases like breast cancer, and at lower risk of other diseases like lung cancer, and some women are also at greater risk of certain diseases like prostate cancer. Genetically, women typically inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, but some women may inherit an X chromosome from the mother, and a Y chromosome from the father" Simogne (talk) 02:28, 18 September 2026 (UTC)

The possible variances in chromosomes, including being trans or trisomy X, are covered in the paragraph immediately following, and I think that is fine. CaptainEek ^{Edits Ho Cap'n!}⚓ 04:43, 19 September 2026 (UTC)

I would like to support the proposal to use a collage as the lead image for this article.

I think there is a reasonable case for reconsidering the current image, particularly when compared with the lead image used in Man. That article uses this: , a montage depicting multiple men, whereas this article uses a photograph of a single individual. Since these articles cover closely related concepts, I think it is worth considering whether their lead images could follow a more consistent approach.

My main argument for a collage is that no single photograph can represent the full range of women across different historical periods, cultures, ages and fields of activity. A collage could communicate this diversity more effectively while avoiding the implication that one individual is the default visual representation of womanhood. This is not to say that the current photograph is inherently unsuitable, but that there are alternative approaches worth considering.

There is already a collage of women on Wikimedia Commons, as well as a more recent proposal on this page. These provide starting points for a constructive discussion rather than requiring us to begin from scratch.

I recognize that Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Images for the lead advises against photomontages and image galleries in articles about ethnic groups or similarly large human populations. I would therefore welcome discussion of how that guidance applies here, especially given the existing approach taken by Man. I am not suggesting that one article's current image automatically determines what the other should use, but I think the difference merits consideration.

If a collage is considered appropriate, I would also support implementing it using an appropriate template such as {{Photo montage}}, as suggested in the existing discussion, rather than simply embedding a flattened image without considering accessibility and maintainability.

Overall, I believe a carefully selected collage could offer a more informative and balanced introduction to the subject. I would be interested in hearing whether other editors think this approach is worth pursuing. SanMaster17 (contribs) 10:37, 10 October 2026 (UTC)

Ok the images ended up too big but you get what I mean SanMaster17 (contribs) 10:38, 10 October 2026 (UTC)

@SanMaster17 man has not used a photo montage in more than a decade. Even before the current image, it used a single painting (The Creation of Adam). CaptainEek ^{Edits Ho Cap'n!}⚓ 17:22, 10 October 2026 (UTC)

I support the idea of having a variety of images. However, I'd rather have one bigger image that changes regularly than to have a collection of 20 postage-stamp-size photos. WhatamIdoing (talk) 22:18, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

I support the collage, but I disagree with WAID's suggestion of one image that changes regularly. There's enough struggle had over the image on this page already, if we had to change it regularly I think this might actually become the most grueling talk page on all of Wikipedia. Imagine if a fight breaks out over making the next image a Palestinian woman, or an Israeli woman, or a trans woman, or JK Rowling, or a model, or Honey Boo-Boo, or Ivanka Trump. If it's one single image, it'll be a neverending firestorm. Snokalok2 (talk) 22:56, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

A collage will still face the same issues as rotating images though (e.g. why is _____ included in the collage but not ____ ). Some1 (talk) 23:14, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

A collage opens the way for compromise though. You're not fighting for one image, you're fighting for a balance Snokalok2 (talk) 23:21, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

At this point, someone should just start an rfc with these following options: 1) a single image 2) a collage 3) rotating images 4) no image. The image selection part can come later once we get consensus on that question first. Some1 (talk) 23:29, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

We'll never get "perfect", because we could never all agree on one image, but this one is pretty good, and we established consensus for it. I mean, what is actually wrong with the current image? It's high quality, not overly retouched or filtered or blurry or what have you, it quite clearly illustrates a woman, and she looks quietly dignified. In line with ETHNICGALLERIES, I oppose a collage. I oppose a rotating cast of characters, because it's a collage in disguise. I guess we could hold an RfC, but ETHNICGALLERIES makes a collage a nonstarter. CaptainEek ^{Edits Ho Cap'n!}⚓ 00:18, 17 October 2026 (UTC)

No, the existing RfC consensus and the MOS are correct about this. The current image is high-quality and representative. Anything smaller than a 2x2 grid is unreadable on smaller screens. The gesture at universality and "compromise" encourages, not discourages, bickering about what subjects/groups/traits get represented. –RoxySaunders 🏳️‍⚧️ (talk • stalk) 01:49, 17 October 2026 (UTC)