The cost of sanitary products is restrictive for many. It might hinder a person’s day to day life, inability to attend schools, job interviews, or opportunities that could lead to economic advancement. It’s easy to visualize that the lack of access of period products is hard on transgender and non-binary people. So, when we consider them, they are more likely to live in period poverty than cis-people.
Social Problems
It’s not just the economic barrier faced by the community; some might experience gender dysphoria because periods are gendered as “only a woman’s thing“. Also, due to the linkage between menstruation and femininity, trans women feel excluded because of the socially accepted idea of a woman still rests upon reproduction and menstruation. Uninvited periods can be a little dangerous for trans men. The noise of ripping off the sanitary pads and disposing of menstrual products in toilets can expose trans men to violence.
“It makes me extremely dysphoric using the women’s restroom, but what else can I do? I think it would be dangerous if I used the men’s restroom. A gender-neutral restroom would be a great way of tackling this problem,” says a 16-year-old residing in Dubai, who identifies as a trans non-binary person.
Most menstrual products that we see are marketed as feminine hygiene products. They are predictably produced considering cis-women. They are decorated with stereotypical motifs of social ideas of femininity. It can be off-putting for transgender and non-binary people.
For them, purchasing sanitary products can be a big task. The majority of options like tampons and sanitary pads aren’t compatible with most boxers or briefs and can cause severe body dysphoria. Recently, Procter and Gamble took the initiative of removing the Venus symbol from the packaging of ‘Always‘ sanitary pads. It can be considered as a meaningful step towards inclusivity.
Gender-Neutral Menstrual Products
With increasing inclusivity in menstruation, there have been small changes within the period industry. They are now moving towards bringing designs in products which can be freely used by menstruators regardless of gender.
- Thinx Boyshorts: The first brand that used a transgender model to represent their product. The boy-shorts made by Thinx are period underwear, an excellent gender-neutral option. These boy-shorts can hold up to 10ml worth of blood at a time. They made a short video to raise awareness on men dealing with stained bedsheets, asking strangers for tampons, and an anxious teenager experiencing his first period.
- Pyramid 7 boxer shorts: They describe their company as “boxer briefs for periods, not gender“. The boxers made by them are leak-proof, having an interior pocket that secures menstrual products like pads and panty liners.
- Wingless pads: They are good options to use in any briefs or other fitted garments. These cloth pads can be secured with small safety pins on the underside. They have the added benefit of being noise-free, unlike other disposable pads, which are super noisy.
- Luna pads: Boxer-briefs by them have a lined inner panel with a suitable absorbent material that extends to the back. The inner panel can be swapped out as needed. They assure leak-free protection.
- Menstrual Disk: Newer to the period industry, it’s concept is similar to a menstrual cup. It’s a flat disc that sits past the vaginal canal behind the pubic bones. While the menstrual disk being a disposable product does produce waste (unlike menstrual cups), but it’s far less than pads and tampons.
But the products mentioned above are available in the international market. As far as the Indian market is concerned, there is still a need to revolutionize and to be more inclusive in terms of menstrual products.
Change For The Better
Predictably, in the coming times, we are going to see a massive shift to produce reusable, functional and inclusive menstrual products. With an increase in solid waste through disposable menstrual products, companies are taking initiatives to cater to both issues. They have to think beyond design if they want the brand loyalty of all genders.
The present generation cares for both people and the environment. Due to the news and media, the age is acquiring knowledge of the inclusivity of gender in every aspect. Sunn, an 18-year old, feels the same, “The next generation of people will grow up being more aware and understanding. People who are confused about their identities feel like they are wrong. People will grow up knowing that we exist and that’s okay, it’s normal. If kids learn this, they can teach it to generation after generation, and we’ll gradually become a more inclusive society as a whole.”