A LunaRevolution for All Genders, All Bodies
Hi everybody, Lisa here! Our most recent guest post from Samson (read here) motivated me to finally share some of my own thoughts and an explanation / followup to the note on gender that I added to our website recently.
For those who haven’t seen it yet, here’s the note:
Lunapads users and community members are cisgender, transgender and genderqueer individuals who span the gender spectrum. Cisgender / AFAB (assigned female at birth) women comprise the majority of our customer base. However, we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming space for all those seeking eco friendly solutions to their everyday and monthly needs.
Being mindful of essentialist & exclusionary comments made about periods and bodies – and the real & lasting impact those words and assumptions have – is important to me, both in and outside of my work here at Lunapads. Avoiding framing conversations in ways that make others feel unrecognized or overlooked matters to me, to my community, to my family, and to many of our customers. I hope we can also move beyond simply being “neutral” to talking about periods in ways that are actually inclusive of all those who experience them. I care about what we say and how we say it because I believe that exclusion in language equals exclusion in practice.
In understanding and acknowledging that each individual’s experience is far more complex and varied than traditional gender constructs would have us believe, I think we can find new, meaningful ways to relate to and support each other — strengthening our communities and expanding the narrow confines of who’s given access to improved health, comfort and support in relation to their own menstrual cycles and bodies.
My hope is that we will continue to listen and work on maintaining a space within the Lunapads community for those who menstruate and feel unrepresented or overlooked in conversations about menstruation. While most women menstruate at some point in their lives, the ways in which those cycles are experienced varies so widely depending on a number of factors. Furthermore, having a period is not something exclusive to those who are women — nor do all women menstruate or share the same feelings about their bodies, fertility, sexuality, and so on.
I believe that when we hold space for people whose experiences or perspectives may differ from ours, and really listen to what is being said, we’re given an invaluable opportunity to learn, grow and effect greater change. Alternately, when we see and hear from others whose experiences or perspectives reflect ours in ways we have never or rarely seen, we typically feel less invisible, less alone and more empowered. Wherever you find yourself, I think there is a richness in your voice being here and the conversation broadening.
If you are a trans, genderqueer or gender non-conforming person who has comments or feedback, please get in touch with me at lisa@lunapads.com – I’d love to hear from you. In fact, that invitation extends to anyone who feels they have a unique perspective to share about menstruation, what choosing reusable menstrual alternatives has meant for them, or what barriers they face in making the switch and/or getting on board with what we do here at Lunapads.
In related news, I read about a really encouraging development in the OB-GYN world this week that I want to share. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has issued a statement addressing the significant barriers to health care that trans people routinely face, encouraging physicians to take steps towards ensuring that they are better equipped to provide inclusive, accessible health care to their patients. Please check out the links below and read the press release here: Ob-Gyns: Prepare to Treat Transgender Patients.
Related Links:
Gynecologists told to prepare to treat transgender patients Feministing
OB-GYNs Instructed to Provide Better Care for Transgender Patients Slate
ACOG issues statement urging OB-GYNs to treat transgender patients Radical Doula
Ob-Gyns: Prepare to Treat Transgender Patients Health Canal
Opening our Office Doors to the Transgender Community ACOG
