Written by: Soumali Datta
When it comes to menstruation, people, almost always, refer to the experience of cis-gender women i.e. those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB). But trans men, genderqueer, intersex or non-binary people who undergo menstrual cycle are more often than not left out of the conversation.
Moreover, not all those who identify as women bleed. This might be due to some medical condition(s) or menopause, stress, disease or a hysterectomy. Some may have never menstruated due to certain medical conditions or they might be transgender or intersex. The idea that gender is binary, (i.e. there are only two genders), being a black and white dichotomy, is a social construct, just as the idea that periods are experienced merely by women and are a symbol of ‘womanhood’.
Menstruation is still bound by many social, cultural and religious restrictions and taboos. In many parts of India, a cis-woman who menstruates faces restrictions from those lacking the basic knowledge about menstruation and the needs associated with it. They are not allowed to enter temples, touch or eat certain foods, and in some places, even made to stay separately from the family for the time they menstruate. If this is how “cis”-women are treated, it can be easily deducible how bad it is for those who are not even accepted in society.
When a biological phenomenon such as menstruation is gendered, it leads to emotional and mental turmoil, social exclusion and lack of menstrual healthcare, mostly among those who identify as non-binary gender identities. Some people might also experience gender dysphoria while going through menstruation. This is because of the way periods have been portrayed — as a ‘women’s issue’ — or because menstruation is incongruent with how they wish their body functioned.
For a trans man experiencing periods, they might feel akin to a woman. Similarly, for a trans woman who doesn’t menstruate, they might not feel ‘woman enough’. These may trigger intense gender dysphoria. Rather, if periods are considered gender-less and those who experience it are simply referred to as ‘people who have periods’ or ‘menstruators’ instead of ‘menstruating women’, it would make for a more inclusive society. We should keep in mind that menstruation is a natural bodily phenomenon and can be experienced by a person identifying with any gender.
Their struggles are not only limited to dysphoria. Non-cis-women who menstruate also face safety concerns when they menstruate in gendered bathrooms. Lack of trash cans inside stalls in men’s restrooms makes it difficult for them to discreetly throw away period products. Moreover, there’s always a constant fear of being found out while opening sanitary napkins or using them. If someone, due to lack of a better option, is forced to use a woman’s washroom where it’s comparatively easier to manage your bleeding, they may “pass” for a male or appear “too masculine”, which may become unsafe for them and lead to gender dysphoria.
Considering how transgender people are treated and the extraordinary levels of violence that they face in this country, these fears are justified. It’s also difficult for them to get access to period products during emergencies. The effect of period poverty is also more serious for them. The exclusion they face during menstrual awareness and advertisements of menstrual products, which only portrays women, is also troubling.
Sometimes , they are forced to take measures to deal with these problems: these range from taking a contraceptive pill to halt their periods or getting a hysterectomy. Some people undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and might bleed intermittently if their access to HRT is irregular due to cost, poverty, health insurance or other reasons, which can also contribute to gender dysphoria.
Menstrual awareness is important because it helps to dismantle cultures of shame and misinformation that have been associated with it for centuries. At the same time, those who are left out of the discussion may feel alienated.
This calls for a change in the mindset within our society. First of all, we need to accept and acknowledge a person’s right to identify with whatever gender they want to. Secondly, we need to stop relating menstruation with just cis-gender women. Media and brands selling menstrual hygiene products must do their fair share in helping with this exclusion. They must refrain from portraying periods as a cis-woman’s concern in advertisements and make it more inclusive.
Having unisex bathrooms in public places stocked with free or low-cost clean menstrual products can serve as a huge step on part of the government. This will also help in reducing period poverty that is otherwise rampant in this country. Owners of malls, movie halls and other establishments can do the same.
While we can’t expect these changes to happen overnight, we must begin by opening up the conversation to all gender identities and taking the first step towards inclusivity.