Lunette (menstrual cups) policing our language.

[littlecabbage]

I was interested in the MN sponsored thread about Lunette menstrual cups, and so had a look at the Lunette website. Unfortunately, there is an entire page dedicated to discussing “cis-women” and multiple “genders”, and lecturing us all on “how feminine-only language hurts” and how they would like to police our language for us.

I will therefore not be buying this product.

uk.lunette.com/blogs/news/gender-and-period-care-products

What to Say Instead

So, it’s pretty clear that the use of female-centric words needs to cease in the menstruation industry. This begs the question of what to say instead.

Depending on the context, you can try to avoid naming groups of people. For example, instead of saying “Some people who menstruate prefer Lunette” you could say “Lunette is a preferred menstrual care product”

We’ve changed racist labels. We’ve changed sexist labels. Now, let’s change cisexist ones. Periods are not inherently feminine. Periods are a biological phenomenon that impacts the lives of people who are born with a uterus. We have the power to grow toward inclusion of all people who menstruate, and now is the time for that shift. All people deserve to feel comfortable taking care of themselves during their time of the month. Period.

Here is the MN thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests/3741592-Find-out-what-MN-testers-thought-of-the-Lunette-menstrual-cup

CSP Xmas decs. Sneaked a few on some relatives’ trees. Confused the hell out of them.

I work in a supermarket BettyBoo I've been scanning incontinence products for weeks whereby womens products are simply called Tena or Tena Light. Or Tena Man...

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo

I’m beginning to think that every time a company panders to this misogynistic bullshite, we should write to them and demand that they remove the word ‘man/male’ from their products, as it’s not trans friendly. I wonder how our little misogynistic supporters of all things trans, would react to having their ‘sex’ erased from make products. After alll, what’s good for the goose!

Siameasy

I’m so angry that we are getting eroded. I’d have thought a site like mumsnet should support women. Or should they rename themselves to
Theynet
Net

They wouldn’t dare upset the menz though Totally, it’s only women who are superfluous and as disposable as their products, this shit show is actually fucking sinister. Glad someone else has noticed Christmassy

I have bought DD menstrual cups from this place, and they seem to know that the people who use them are women, eg from their blog: "A lot of women choose to use a menstrual cup as it takes care of things for up to 12 hours at a time."
floweretcup.com/blogs/news

The microwave sterilisers/travel cases are handy too:
floweretcup.com/collections/everything

The thing that makes me so angry is that the people who write this rubbish seem to have no idea what happens to women when there is no language to protect their rights, or understand that being in a majority is no protection against being marginalised.

It's an awful lot worse than 'not feeling comfortable during the time of the month'.

the people who write this rubbish seem to have no idea what happens to women when there is no language to protect their rights

Or they're out to make money and don't give a shit about women's rights anyway...

They also promote the fantasy idea that there is this thing called a 'cis' woman whose identity is affirmed by having periods.

It's sexist woo drivel.

The only thing getting my period has ever affirmed for me is that I'm not pregnant. Which has certainly come as a relief at some points, but it's fuck all to do with "femininity".

I don't know that this is driven by trans men. Quite a few big names in the trans community like to witter on about "having cramps" and it being "that time of the month". Menstruation envy. If they're that envious they can have mine. They're a fucking nightmare.

Menstruation envy? Wow. Bet they’d soon get bored of it.

From the website:

The feminine-only language approach to having a period is not only irrelevant but can also lead to a plethora of issues that affect self-esteem

Whereas failing to recognise that an easily identifiable group of people have periods, give birth, go through menopause etc. makes it possible to ignore all the consequences of sex, and deny 50% of the population the right to participate in society - regardless of whether they suffer from low self esteem or consider themselves to be feminine.

So does that mean women who menstruated or are menstruating are irrelevant?

Women who menstruate are privileged people who must keep quiet about the effect of menstruation, gestation, lactation and menopause on their lives. These are all unique phenomena that could happen to anyone, and it is heresy to observe that these things only affect one particular, identifiable group.

Lunette can shove it in whichever actual or mythical orifice they fancy.

From their blog - uk.lunette.com/blogs/news/why-pride-isn-t-just-about-the-rainbows

I understand nothing!

Personally I think they are missing a trick here transman need products so market some products towards transman it doesnt need to be a blanket ban on the word woman

@Coatandhat

That 'article' is like woke bingo isn't it. I think the author was trying to say something ever so profound and in doing so, said absolutely fuck all. And as a bisexual woman I should have a vested interest in the topic they are discussing. Utter tripe.

Well, I've just checked and the company who makes the menstrual cup I use knows which sex has periods.

Just as well for them, as I'd have returned the thing to them in the post in protest otherwise.

I just bought a My Green Vibes cup because it was an amazon offer. Checked their website and it told me about women having X number of periods in their lifetime. I'm glad they know it's women that do and I won't be binning the cup.

@JustASmallTownCurl

woke bingo

There is a chat opportunity on the website, I have left a pertinent comment.

There is also a comments section.