Why We Must Stop Calling Menstruation A ‘Women’s Issue’
By V. Tanner
When we talk, write, and yes, even sing about menstruation, it is typically discussed from the perspective of cis women. And on the surface? That makes a lot of sense. Cis women are the majority when it comes to the demographic affected by this much-maligned shedding of uterine lining.
However, the fact is that many cis women’s consistent framing of this biological phenomenon as a “women’s issue” does a lot more harm than many know. We interviewed several non-binary people who menstruate, as well as some trans men, about how this sustained exclusion is damaging, as well as how the process of menstruation affects them in general. We also interviewed a few trans women about the dominant narrative of menstruation as a “women’s issue” — which also erodes their sense of identity — but in very different ways. In truth, there were so many interviewees and so many perspectives, we had to cull it all down for the sake of internet brevity and streamlined brilliance.
Together, those interviewed paint a picture of how menstruation affects trans people exclusively, but we also recognize that these answers only apply to each individual and their singular experiences; they do not represent the trans community writ large.
