Gender and period care products: making menstruation inclusive
As long as menstruation has been around it’s been classified as something uniquely feminine. Throughout centuries of civilization, individual cultures have identified periods as either a sacred and powerful time or a dangerous and unclean one. But regardless of how societies feel about the process of menstruation itself, it has been clearly labeled as something that embodies femininity in its most untouched state.
Seemingly an ancient thought process to those of us who understand the need for inclusivity, the words feminine and period still go hand in hand today. You see it used on the packaging of period care products, in commercials, and in the daily language that many of us use to discuss our menses. It’s been handed down from generation to generation and seems so normal to most people.
The key word here? Most. The majority of people identify as cisgender, meaning that they feel that they were born with the correct genitals. But what about the rest of the population? The transgender men who have uteruses but do not identify as women? The agender or nonbinary people who prefer gender neutral pronouns like “they” to “him” or “her”? These marginalized groups have been left out of the menstruation conversation entirely.
Who has periods?
Menstruation isn’t exclusive to cis women. It also affects:
- Transgender men
- Agender people
- Nonbinary people
- Cisgender women
These groups of people all experience the monthly flow of blood from their uterus and, decidedly, not all of them identify as “feminine”. Additionally, plenty of people who do identify as feminine don't experience menstruation.
People past menopause don't experience periods and they are not inherently less feminine. Transgender women and women who have undergone a hysterectomy don't experience monthly bleeding and still are able to express any amount of femininity that they desire.
Conclusively, we can tell that not all women have periods and not all people who have periods are women.
How feminine - only language hurts?
Language shapes perception. When we use terms like “feminine hygiene,” we unintentionally exclude and alienate people who don’t identify as feminine but still menstruate.
This can lead to:
- Body dysphoria;
- Low self-esteem;
- Discomfort in public spaces;
- Barriers to accessing care.
Imagine being a trans man shopping for period products labeled “for women.” It’s not just awkward, it’s invalidating. So, it’s pretty clear that the use of female-centric words needs to cease in the menstruation industry. This begs the question of what to say instead.
Depending on the context, you can try to avoid naming groups of people. For example, instead of saying “Some people who menstruate prefer Lunette” you could say “Lunette is a preferred menstrual care product”. I mean, we all get that, if you’re using a period product then you probably have a period. I’ve been guilty of quipping “people with uteruses” from time to time - until I realized that, hey, this person who has a uterus may really, really wish they didn’t have one. And so to lump them into a group that reminds them that they do have a uterus, possibly contributing to body dysmorphia, well, I don’t want any part of that.
In terms of addressing body parts, it’s always a good idea to use correct medical terminology like “vagina”, “cervix”, or “uterus”, instead of cutesie names. Yes, these words may still make some people uncomfortable but needing a degree of precision when talking about matters of health is necessary and, from what I understand, most people who do not identify as female are understanding and alright with this.
The menstrual care industry is evolving. Brands are shifting toward gender-neutral packaging, trans-positive education, and inclusive product design. Menstrual equity means everyone who bleeds deserves access, dignity, and comfort.
Let’s retire cisnormative labels and embrace language that reflects the diversity of people who menstruate. Because periods aren’t feminine they’re human.
photo: courtesy of Pinterest
