Please help me reply to this defence of "Menstruators"

[colouringinagain]

Hi. I'm part of a FB group for women suffering with PMDD. I commented on a recent post where "Menstruators" was used. I suggested with a wink, that they meant Women.

This was the reply:
Nope... We had lots of feedback very early on that trans men and non binary sufferers need to be included... It's menstruators or those who menstruate for now. If you can think of something better so let us know. And if not... Then please feel free to step forward and take all the slack we get 😉

I am massively disappointed that this group has fallen for the trans line. Especially as it's one supporting Women with an ultimately Female health problem.

Any suggestions please - I am too

If I were you I would probably just move on. I can see where they are coming from. I can also see where you are coming from. People have different opinions and can be stubborn when it comes to defending them. It's just a group on Facebook. That's the internet for you! Just my two cents.

The thing is can we really change women into woman and trans men who still have wombs/body part that we are discussing with woman’s health every time we want to say “woman”.

If the group was otherwise good, I'd stick around as Ari says

Otherwise I'd leave them to it and find a better support group

I would point out that biological females are the only possible group to suffer with this health problem, so there is no need whatsoever for any term but woman in this particular topic. I would also want to add that pandering to people who want to pretend they can have issues with a menstrual cycle is utterly ridiculous and frankly insulting to the women whose lives are badly affected by the condition.

Surely they mean 'women of reproductive age'.

It is like saying spastics instead of people with cerebral palsy. It is hugely rude and dehumanising.

you could suggest that they canvas ALL users for their views, not just those who shout loudest.
I would bet that many users of such a group are thinking
eh?
wtf?
How many transmen do you think are actually in the group, compared with regular, boring women?

If there are people who feel that they don't fall under the definition of 'woman', the terms menstruators helps them feel included.

Presumably, these people have wombs and are suffering health-wise. If this word helps them to connect with other people suffering PMDD and support each other, how is that a bad thing?

Think the point is that if you want to live as a man and identify as man that’s great go for it. But it’s a fact that you can’t physical change you DO have a woman’s body. Even if you remove womb and breasts you still don’t have male organs either.
In context that 99% of a group say women they include you because you DO have a woman’s body.

It would be great if groups for support on woman’s issues also included managing trans men isssues While tying to life as a man. Imagine it’s tricky but you can’t expect everyone else to pretend you don’t have a woman’s body. By very nature you do or wouldn’t be in the support group for it in the first place.

Oh trans men?! Not trans women. Well that makes a lot more sense.

Menstruators still isn't great, but I can see that it would be difficult for trans men who are actually suffering with the condition to feel included. Could they not just say people instead of women?

Womenstruators.

I just googled PMDD and it seems very clear that group members are all going to be folk who menstruate - therefore women is absolutely fine. The only case where I think it would be ok to use "menstruators" would be where it was likely to be a more diverse group of women, not all of whom who menstruate, and the post was specifically about something to do with menstruation.

Like many have said, I can see why they've done it.

But as stormwhale says, this affects biological Women and Akire interesting perspective.

Can we start calling men ejaculators?

Akire I see what you're saying and I can see the dangers one can get into by changing the meaning of words to the point where men can menstruate and females can have penises.

However, I don't think that saying 'menstruators' is accepting that men menstruate. I think it's acknowledging that some people aren't comfortable identifying as women and since what's important in this specific health context is the fact that all of these people, regardless of how they're comfortable identifying themselves personally, menstruate, suffer from a health condition specific to that and want to connect with others going through similar.

But it is a group for women?

TERFragettecity best user name I’ve seen for a while. Cheered me up after getting into an online argument in which I was immediately labelled a Terf.

On closer look it's from a group called Vicious Cycle who are effectively campaigning to increase awareness of PMDD. Run by same person who runs PMDD support group.

I had naively assumed that both were women's groups.

It's estimated that 0.5% population is transgender.

I do get what you are saying.

Thanks. I'm struggling to articulate it!

Cheered me up after getting into an online argument in which I was immediately labelled a Terf.

Thank you. Keep fighting the good fight, my good TERF.

1 in 20 people of menstruating age suffer

Do they mean 1 in 10 fertile women suffer?

Lets dehumanise women.

I think id put the words. Do fuck off. If im honest.

This language gymnastics has actually been making me mentality unwell. Its undermining my identity and self worth. Its frankly about holding power over others, to make yourself feel better by projecting your pain on others. Thats frankly abusive.

If you dont want to conform, fine thats your business but it also impacts on others too. Why inflict your misery and emotional problems with identity on other people?

I really don't get these fuckers.

Sex is valid. Women have the right to identify as simply woman without the bullshit. Imposing this on others has consequences too. 'Cis privilege' is a total load of bullshit to emotionally blackmail people.

Think most people worry you change it in one place and it will turn into a great social shift. So no one can say women you have to say woman and trans men who have periods. Women and trans men who have breast tissue. Woman and trans men who display different symptoms of a heart attack when present at hospital etc etc If you change it on one area then at
What point is women forever with the tag on?

Some things are so big would
You change it for a tiny bit of
“Well that didn’t apply to me?”
Or “I don’t see that as reflecting who I am”. ?

Im a Wheelchair user if I started complaining everytime a leaflet or website talked about things being a 5min walk or when you walk... because I felt left out they don’t mean me. Making them say it’s a 5min walk or wheel in a wheelchair or using other mobility aid of your Choice . People would think you have lost the plot. Guess some things you are supposed to put up with. Or is it reasonable society changes everything because every word or simple word like men women, see, hear, walk would exclude those who can’t
Or see themselves as
Not belonging.

Agreed red. Also the way that there’s the whole we just want to be respected and accepted bullshit when they don’t respect or accept what women are saying makes my blood boil.