“Menstruator”: Gender Inclusivity in the Menstrual Movement
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed the phrases “menstruator” or “people with periods” popping up. Gender inclusivity has been a part of the menstrual movement for as long as it has existed, but it has become especially relevant for those of us in the advocacy and nonprofit world as we shape our language and education to be inclusive to all. Today, I want to unpack why gender inclusivity around menstruation matters- and why it can also be a challenge.
Why should I care?
This blog post will not be an argument about the validity of gender-diverse individuals- as menstrual equity advocates, we can all agree that every single person who menstruates deserves dignity, education, and proper menstrual care. This is the central tenet of our work, and it’s not up for debate. The belief that every person with a period deserves these things is not shaken by race, nationality, economic status, or gender identity.
That being said, we as menstrual equity advocates need to care about inclusivity because of the impact it can have on gender-diverse individuals’ ability to access the menstrual health education & care we are working to provide.
It starts with language.
There has lately been a greater focus on inclusive language in the menstrual movement. Terms like “menstruator” have popped up to acknowledge the fact that there are many people who are not women who menstruate. It is a simple fact that there are transgender and non-binary individuals who have uteruses and experience menstruation. When we propose policy or access plans for people with periods, they are included in that community.
Notably, terms like “menstruator” also separate womanhood from the fact of menstruation. Beyond including non-women who menstruate in the conversation, this terminology also breaks down the implication that one must menstruate to be a woman. Trans women do not menstruate. Neither do women who have undergone hysterectomies or experienced menopause. These groups of women are no less woman because they do not menstruate. Menstrual equity is inextricably linked to gender inequity, but more than that, it is about ensuring that those who do menstruate are no less valued and able to participate in society.
It grows into infrastructural inequities.
Inclusive language can seem like an insignificant piece of the puzzle, but failing to include gender-diverse individuals can slowly create an infrastructure in which gender-diverse menstruators are not concerned when menstrual policies are implemented. A good example is in public restrooms, either non-gendered or for men. Not nearly all women’s restrooms have accessible period products: many have coin-operated dispensers that present a cost barrier or are simply left unfilled by maintenance staff. If women, the only “people with periods” often considered in policymaking, don’t have this resource, how can trans men or gender-diverse individuals expect to have this need met in other facilities?
Beyond product access, adequate disposal facilities are also a critical component of safe & dignified menstruation for all people. In a survey about menstrual health at Penn State, one anonymous respondent wrote this:
“As a trans man, I really wish the men’s restrooms had trash cans in the stalls. Disposing of products while using the men’s restroom is sometimes impossible. Many men’s restrooms have air dryers and don’t have trash cans at all. Which either leads to wearing a pad too long because I know I won’t be able to dispose of it properly, or wrapping it in toilet paper and trying to [discreetly] hold it until I can find another trash can.”
This individual bravely shared that they were directly affected by policies that failed to consider gender-diverse experiences of menstruation. If we don’t start with inclusive language, policies will never consider these experiences.
Beyond policy, the marketing, packaging, and market accessibility of menstrual products is still highly gendered. Who hasn’t walked into their local CVS and seen the “Feminine Hygiene” sign over the aisle with the pads and tampons? In addition to potentially being a source of discomfort or gender dysphoria, masculine-presenting people with periods may face a safety issue when publicly purchasing these products by “outing” themselves.
But there are times when it’s not easy.
Making the case for gender inclusivity in the menstrual movement is the easiest part: we can all agree that anyone who menstruates shares these basic infrastructural needs. But in a grand, international scope of fighting period poverty, the picture can get a little fuzzy.
Imagine you are providing menstrual health education to a remote Nepalese village, perhaps one that still practices chaupadi and views menstruation as a curse. Perhaps you are teaching young girls who have not yet had their periods or even heard the word uttered in their homes. When these girls ask if their fathers or brothers have periods, the nuance of gender inclusivity becomes vastly more complicated when speaking to a community that has been taught that women have less worth than farm animals. As an educator, your priority is to share the information in a clear and uncomplicated way- will you risk your education being received by bringing gender-diverse considerations to a community that isn’t even quite sure what menstruation is?
Imagine another scenario, in which you are advocating for free menstrual products on your college campus. The decision-maker has finally agreed to launch a pilot program! But the program will only be available in women’s restrooms, not in men’s or non-gendered restrooms. What do you do? Do you fight the program unless everyone who menstruates is included? Do you accept the pilot program with the hopes that it might be in the budget to expand it to everywhere it is needed next year?
So, what should we do?
I don’t think there is a single right answer of addressing gender inclusivity in the menstrual movement. I have heard philosophies from menstrual movement CEO’s and students alike that the first step is to draw attention to the problem- once we begin serving the need, we can expand to serve the need for everyone. At the same time, how can we present that argument to a trans man experiencing period poverty? How can we say, “We’re working on it, but we’ll get to you later” in good conscience as advocates?
If I could give one recommendation, it would be this: don’t stop speaking up for gender-diverse menstruators. If you are going into a community program, ask if gender-diverse individuals will be there. Try to include less hyper-feminine period products in the kits you distribute if you know gender-diverse clients will receive them. Use your best judgment when giving education: Your first priority is to make sure everyone understands menstruation, and you as the advocate must do your due diligence of the cultural implications to know what the knowledge base is.
In my work, I try to use inclusive language and acknowledge all menstruators whenever possible. However, it is simply not the reality that this information will be accepted in all corners of the world. I have an incredible privilege to do the majority of my work in environments where the validity of gender-diverse individuals is not an obstacle to overcome in educational programs. But no matter where you work or who you work with, the best way to prioritize gender inclusivity is to include everyone in your conversations and work towards achieving menstrual equity for every single person with a period.
P.S. Which term is better: “menstruators” or “people with periods?” One of the nonprofits I currently work with firmly strikes “menstruator” out of the brand book. Generally, both are accepted in academia. Some organizations prefer person-first language, a concept growing out of inclusivity for diversely-abled individuals, highlighting that anyone with a period is an equal human being regardless of their status as someone who menstruates. Others prefer “menstruator” as an easy-flowing word to replace the commonly used “woman” when discussing menstrual equity. There is no right or wrong answer- just be mindful of the priorities of any organization you represent, and do your best to be inclusive in whatever way aligns best with your values.
