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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Welsh Government Period Dignity Action Plan Consultation

31 replies

MatureMam · 05/01/2022 09:21

The Welsh Government Period Dignity Action Plan is a good thing but many are concerned about the language used in the document being influenced by transgender ideology. Women and girls are mentioned but the WG's preferred term is 'people who have periods'. Males are, of course, also people, so this is nonsense. If you are concerned at all about the language use and feel it undermines the rights of female reproductive health, then please take part in the consultation, which ends on 12th January. gov.wales/period-dignity-strategic-action-plan

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Olderbadger1 · 05/01/2022 16:47

WG are entirely captured by Stonewall (who were consulted on this as the go-to experts in periods apparently) and, as Workplace Champions are obliged to use 'gender-neutral' language for everything. Hence including men and all genders (hollow laugh) in their period policy documents.

I'll be responding to the consultation but with no expectation that my voice as an actual woman will carry any weight at all.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 05/01/2022 16:09

Before this goes any further you are going to have to realise that language matters. Not something I ever thought I would write to the Welsh government!

Given that nothing you include makes women's experience of menstruation any easier for men it seem ludicrous that you use the term 'people'. That's asking 50ish% of the population who have no experience of a thing to tell you how it should be done. Every woman will tell you that no man needs voice his opinion as he has no idea whatsoever of the experiences, needs or wants of any woman whilst menstruating.

And if you think this is being inclusive think again. No transwoman menstruates. Like every other man, regardless of how much surgery they may have had, they will never experience menstruation.

If you mean to include transmen, well just bloody well say so. Should a transman still menstruate they will know they are female and can answer, ask, take part etc. So try that, if you must make the effort to show how inclusive you are being: women and transmen.

And no, you REALLY don't need to get into all the "many other genders" because in 6 months all of that will be yesterday's news or will be some new way of self referencing, that again, nobody else will be able to keep up with.

Just ask women what women want. It really isn't hard!

And you never know, you might increase the confidence that 50ish% of your population has in you! Which currently, as with many political parties, stands at a all time low with many women. Mainly because we are not non-trans, non men, cis or any other daft nomenclature. We are women: Adult human females.

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Just thought I'd fill in the first box

murderbythebook · 05/01/2022 15:33

Good grief! I'm completing this now but the following paragraph:

"citizens in Wales feel able to access health based services around their period and related matters and are confident that these services will be sensitive and informed by sex and gender"

What health based services around their period will those of the male sex require?

Has noone actually read this thing before publication and thought "does this make sense?"

MatureMam · 05/01/2022 13:35

I agree it is dehumanising. The Plan talks about dignity and reducing shame but also manages to make us feel it is in some way wrong or bigoted to talk about our female biology.

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stillamum22 · 05/01/2022 11:16

Thanks for the heads up! I looked at this earlier, the closing date is 12th Jan. This needs to get a response from as many women as possible. The terminology is dehumanising imo and includes 'those who have periods' (hard eye roll). I'm going to do some more digging.

MatureMam · 05/01/2022 09:24

For any women in Wales concerned about our sex-based rights, I recommend looking at Merched Cymru.

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