Inclusive Language and Not Erasing Women

Photo by Kenneth Sørensen on Unsplash

“People who menstruate.” “Menstruators.” I’ve seen an argument that using these terms erases cisgender women.

The use of inclusive language when talking about healthcare is vital. Trans people often don’t seek medical care when they need to. Nearly half of trans people have been mistreated in some way by medical providers, and that leads to a fear of going to the doctor which results in…well…the usual problems caused by not going to the doctor. The number raises to 68% for trans people of color.

If menstruation raises your risk of a condition, then we need to use inclusive language so we include non-binary people who menstruate and trans men who still menstruate. (Going on testosterone does suppress your cycles eventually but it takes a while, and I’ve heard of trans men who have been on hormones for years suddenly having a period, often at the worst possible time).

At the same time, the complicated identity of “woman” needs to be acknowledged, even celebrated.

So, how do we navigate this?

Venn Diagrams, Baby

Not all people who menstruate (using this as an example) are women. Not all women menstruate. Most cis women go through menopause somewhere between 45 and 55 years old and stop menstruating. We don’t stop being women.