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Original poster

Periods don't have a gender

43 replies

Keke94LND · 11/10/2021 09:12

This Instagram page that I follow (I have just unfollowed them) that literally has female in their name, and their bio says 'changing the equation, closing the gaps, we're on a mission to connect women around the world and achieve a gender-equal future', thinks it is appropriate on National period day to post something saying 'periods don't have a gender' .. unbelievable... if you can't state that women have periods and are discriminated against because of this fact, how exactly do they think we can have gender equality and close the gaps? Thankfully, although this post got 7k likes, all of the comments are critical, including a few from people with blue ticks. One of the comments I really liked was
'patriarchy: discriminated against women and makes them feel ashamed of having periods.
Modern day feminists: being a woman is a social construct and period has no gender. Meanwhile women around the globe: still exist, still suffer from patriarchy'

Periods don't have a gender
OP posts:
NecessaryScene · 11/10/2021 09:59

it's time to remember not all people who menstruate are women.

In much the same way as not all multiples of two are even, if you redefine "two" or "even".

But any redefinition that ends up hiding clear truths is clearly counterproductive.

The statement is saying absolutely nothing about material reality, it's just illustrating the brokenness of the definitions.

Words that mean nothing make all statements using them meaningless.

Original poster
Keke94LND · 11/10/2021 09:54

@PaleBlueMoonlight

I think FemaleQuotient is American? If it is, then as I understand it (from another thread) the American use of gender as a synonym for sex is much stronger. So while your approach might be have some legs if this was (is?) British, Glen, assuming it is American then it is more likely that the OP is correct that this is a direct attempt to separate the words we need to describe women from our biological reality.
Yeah, and tbf I didn't include the description underneath the photo which says 'it's time to remember that not only women menstruate'
OP posts:
Original poster
Keke94LND · 11/10/2021 09:52

@Beamur

Periods don't have a gender. They are due to the sex of the woman who has them.
Well yes you are right, it is sex and not gender, but what is the point of them focussing on that? Also in the description underneath they state : it's time to remember not all people who menstruate are women.
OP posts:
Motorina · 11/10/2021 09:44

Period don't have a gender, no more than bowel movements do.

However, only one sex has periods. And they have historically been disadvantaged both for the periods themselves, and for being part of that sex class.

We remain disadvantaged, for all the reasons @MarshmallowSwede has outlined.

How do we challenge those disadvantages if the language used to discuss them is erased in the name of inclusion?

Jaysmith71 · 11/10/2021 09:37

Any analysis of menstrual flow in the lab will reveal it came from an XX woman.

KimikosNightmare · 11/10/2021 09:35

@Beamur

Periods don't have a gender. They are due to the sex of the woman who has them.
You're missing the point the OP is making by a mile.
IvyTwines2 · 11/10/2021 09:32

@BlueSlate

It's so frustrating that so many women seem to think that the best way to 'Smash the Patriarchy' is by letting men in to take over women.
Sadly, I think many of today's girls don't think about smashing the patriarchy - instead, they think the solution is just to identify into it.
KimikosNightmare · 11/10/2021 09:32

@Glenthebattleostrich

I kind of agree. Periods have a sex and gender is made up sparkly bullshit.
You're missing the point the OP is making.

The OP is making the point that periods have been declared "gender neutral" i.e not exclusively women have them.

MarshmallowSwede · 11/10/2021 09:26

Well that’s it then.. period poverty solved! Women being shamed and girls being told they can’t go to school in some places when they are on their period is all solved ladies!!!! Women and girls being sexually assaulted while attempting to see to their period hygiene due to lack of proper toilet facilities (because of period shame these women and girls just can’t be seen doing this). Yes.. you see because now. Period has no gender so it’s all ok now! Women and girls will no long suffer.. because one likely western, clueless, progressive Neo liberal so called feminist said so!

And all it took was us pretending that anyone can have a period! Periods have no gender.. wow so cool and progressive. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

PaleBlueMoonlight · 11/10/2021 09:23

I think FemaleQuotient is American? If it is, then as I understand it (from another thread) the American use of gender as a synonym for sex is much stronger. So while your approach might be have some legs if this was (is?) British, Glen, assuming it is American then it is more likely that the OP is correct that this is a direct attempt to separate the words we need to describe women from our biological reality.

Myusernameisnotmyusernameno · 11/10/2021 09:20

Completely agree with the above. As a female who has suffered with endometriosis I'm sick of this crap

HappyAsASandboy · 11/10/2021 09:20

@Glenthebattleostrich

I kind of agree. Periods have a sex and gender is made up sparkly bullshit.
This. Absolutely this.

Gender is a "guess" at someone's biological sex. Nothing more.

There is currently a nightmare articulating issues around sex because we've spent the last 100 years and more being too afraid to say the word "sex" and have fudged through with gender instead.

BlueSlate · 11/10/2021 09:19

It's so frustrating that so many women seem to think that the best way to 'Smash the Patriarchy' is by letting men in to take over women.

Skysblue · 11/10/2021 09:19

I vote we just erase the word gender, everyone wears what they like / sleeps with whom they want and we get a proper conversation going about sex discrimination and sex-based violence and how utterly crap it is to be female.

Mrsfrumble · 11/10/2021 09:18

I’m sure women in communities where they have to go and hide in a hut every month will be delighted with the news.

Beamur · 11/10/2021 09:17

Periods don't have a gender. They are due to the sex of the woman who has them.

CiaoForDiNiaoSaur · 11/10/2021 09:15

@Glenthebattleostrich

I kind of agree. Periods have a sex and gender is made up sparkly bullshit.
I agree with this. Women have periods. And woman is a sex not a gender.
Glenthebattleostrich · 11/10/2021 09:13

I kind of agree. Periods have a sex and gender is made up sparkly bullshit.