Welsh Government Period Dignity Action Plan Consultation

[MatureMam]

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

Done and bumping.
It's really easy. You dont need to write a screed. Just put something simple like use the words women and girls, not "people"

It is a fairly easy one to respond to but why the hell should we have this constant uphill battle in Wales to get any policy document accepted with the words 'woman' 'female' or 'girl' in it. Or 'men' 'males' and 'boys' for that matter. They only listen to Stonewall - on the LGBTQ+ Action Plan, on the RSE Curriculum, on Period bloody Dignity. Women and girls count for nothing. Even the fact that 2 out of 3 female pupils in Welsh schools have experienced sexual harassment and/or abuse is obscured and gender-neutralised by phrases like 'peer on peer' abuse.
I am trying to write my consultation response without ranting but it is so hard. And I am SO PISSED OFF!

We feel your pain Oldstyle but have to stay hopeful that repeated, evidence-based responses will eventually have an effect.

We are pointing out that the Period Dignity Action Plan won't actually reach many of the intended beneficiaries if it uses language which prioritises the needs of one group over other, often more vulnerable groups. Those with English as a second language for example, those with learning disabilities, those from cultures which consider menstruation a particularly taboo subject.

And we might send them this useful clarification from the BMJ about the fact that 'gender-neutral' language might well undermine clear, jargon-free communication. pmj.bmj.com/content/97/1150/483

Plus we will remind them that female-only toilets, changing rooms and services are an essential component of period dignity. Without that, girls will continue to be the focus of embarrassment, shaming, harassment, and bullying in relation to their periods.

Please do respond if you can. It's not a complex issue but Welsh Government really do need to get it right - and to put girls first for once.

Today's the closing date for the consultation. I've had input into a group one and trying to decide whether to do an individual one. I really hope they are going to start listening soon. Seeing that Stonewall is on the advisory group for this strategy says it all. It puts women on the group in an impossible position and they probably believe that they are doing it for the benefit of very vulnerable people.

I think the consultation closes at midnight. This blog on the Merched Cymru website might give you some ideas if you want to give it a go. There's been stuff on their twitter too. Can't believe how Welsh Gov are letting people trample all over women! merchedcymru.wales/2022/01/10/periods-not-just-a-womens-issue-but-a-womens-issue-nonetheless/

Done, I wrote some text about the need for SEX-SEGREGATED clean WC accommodation for women being the greatest contribution that they could make. And that UTIs are killers for women, so we need CLEAN provision, not shared with men which are inevitably filthy.

I then pasted the same text into all the boxes, plus or minus a few words.

Oh, and a few choice words about their dehumanising language, of course.

Thanks for highlighting this.

I found it jaw dropping that a document supposedly about period dignity would entirely leave out any mention of a need for privacy and discretion. It's like they have had zero candid input from women based on their life experience.

Anyway, have been stuck in the US since covid hit, but have a place in Wales we live in when jobs allow so have filled in the survey response.