“I feel left out. I get my periods too, and people just assume that I am a female. As a trans person, I feel the general population lacks the knowledge about other gender identities and forms of gender expression,” says Robyn, a 17-year-old student from Mumbai, who identifies as genderfluid.
For too long, the term menstruation has been seen as being synonymous with women, cisgender women to be more precise. This has resulted in a distorted perception and understanding of the process by sidelining varied gender identities.
Most people aren’t even aware that trans men or non-binary individuals also experience this process each month. The lack of sex education or discussions upon gender and sexual identities is a significant problem that needs to be rectified.
Moving Towards Gender-Neutral Menstruation
This brings us to another critical aspect of gendered menstruation. The availability of menstrual products in bathrooms, in schools, offices, and the public domain as a whole is lacking. We as a society are already lagging in eliminating period poverty by providing free sanitary pads, and tampons in washrooms. But the point that needs to be highlighted is concerning the lack of these products in men’s rooms.
Menstrual Products In Male Designated Washrooms
The fact that trans men also menstruate cannot be ignored. When men’s rooms severely lack any sort of facility to handle periods, it can make the process for people all the more difficult. From products to a proper system of disposal and sanitation should be maintained as inaccessibility to essential hygiene products is equivalent to denying people fundamental human rights.
Need For Gender-Neutral Washrooms
The demand for gender-neutral washrooms has steadily been on the rise. Their absence disregards the menstrual health of trans and non-binary individuals. Several times people do no feel comfortable using restrooms that don’t coincide with their gender identity. Some describe it as a severely dysphoric experience.
“Going to the washroom in public while looking masculine hasn’t been pleasant. Gender-neutral bathrooms need to be provided in more places, not just cafes and restaurants,” Val says, 22 years old from Mumbai.
But at the same time, they are also vulnerable to threat or harassment if they chose to use the washroom matching their identity. For instance, if a trans man decides to use the male restroom, he may be subject to harassment, and he does not even have access to menstrual hygiene products. This essentially means that due to a lack of facilities, trans individuals will be forced to carry these essentials with themselves.
The Way Ahead
The needs of nonbinary and trans individuals need to be incorporated, especially when talking about menstrual equity. Seeing menstruation as a realm for cisgender women will never allow us to progress. Having the same products available in all public restrooms, in schools, in workspaces – all men’s, women’s and gender-neutral, is an integral part of the solution.
A solution for normalising menstruation is to look at it through a gender-inclusive lens. Combating body dysphoria that people face by using gender-neutral toilets, and above all, giving due recognition to all menstruators.