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People who menstruate

(367 Posts)
maddyone Fri 04-Sept-20 16:06:45

I’ve just looked at my Yahoo page and I saw a news item claiming that a very well known high street shop which sells health products, make up, and sanitary products, have launched a new kind of sanitary pad that is washable which is very commendable in today’s over polluted world, but the wording on the box says, and I quote ‘For people who menstruate.......’ because the store didn’t wish to upset/offend anyone by using the word ‘women.’

I know we’ve had threads discussing transgender issues before, and I don’t have a problem at all with transgender people, but when I saw this I honestly thought that the world has gone mad. Is there really a problem with saying women menstruate? It’s a fact isn’t it? I’m perplexed to be honest. What do other Gransnetters think?

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:07:40

Galaxy So you are entitled to speak for all women whether they agree with you or not?

You 100% know what is best and right for all women?

How is that feminism? Feminism is equality, not dictatorship.

FarNorth Sun 06-Sept-20 11:10:30

I think you mean peoplism, Starblaze.
Why would you want to have 'everyone' in feminism?

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:13:03

No I dont speak for everyone you are the one who is talking about letting people into feminist ideology. I said I thought that was an alien concept.

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:15:30

Terri I won’t even write the c word in full. How dare TRAs decide to qualify the word woman by use of this word? How bloody dare they? I’m a woman - adult human female Transwomen are transwomen.

As for the comment by MrsW about the language being reminiscent of old school homophobia - again how bloody dare you. Gay rights were not about taking away the rights of straight people but about extending the rights of straight people to those who are gay. But TRAs want to take away my rights to safe spaces, to demolish the years of battles we’ve had as women to even establish ourselves as people with basic rights - TRAs want to redefine what a woman is. To make biological women as a class just disappear.

trisher Sun 06-Sept-20 11:15:34

janeainsworh Sorry Trisher but I’m afraid drug dealers who ruin many other people’s lives are one group of society who have crossed the sympathy line as far as I’m concerned
I didn't actually say she was dealing I said she had been charged with dealing. If we work on the principle that everyone is innocent until proved guilty she may well have been the victim of circumstance and would be aquitted when she came to trial, unfortunately while held on remand in a men's prison she would have been violated, But that's OK because some believe she is a man and men deserve everything they get don't they?

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:16:21

I believe in consent starblaze
So for some women for example being in a space with a man is intolerable some woman find unisex facilities absolutely fine. I am not saying that those women should use single sex spaces that would be insane, but you (generic you) are saying that women arent allowed single sex spaces. It's not me who is tellkng people what to do.

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:18:14

But women would not be violated if a man is in a womans prison. It doesnt make sense trisher.

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:18:27

Then challenge mysogyny, don't allow it to back you up in your opinion.

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:20:21

There should be wings in prisons for transgender people - to protect transmen in men’s prisons and to protect biological women in women’s prisons. See the common threat?

trisher Sun 06-Sept-20 11:22:33

Galaxy an earlier statement of yours has bothered me all night Feminism is for women
There have been men who were and are feminists since records began. During the campaign fo the vote Henry Brailsford a well-known journalist and writer formed the Men's League for Women's Suffrage. He supported his suffragette wife Jane Brailsford and wrote for the Votes For Women newspaper. It's a great mistake to think there are no feminist men or to imagine that all women understand or support feminism.

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:24:24

Show me where I said that women can't have single sex spaces and I will address it.

Changing rooms and cubicles which I have suggested as being unisex and secure are not the same as prisons and hostels.

However safeguarding is in place there and safeguarding failures have happened that need to be addressed.

I believe that there should be a way to make everyone safe and comfortable without actively discriminating

I believe that and have repeated it several times after listening to others point of view.

Don't put words in my mouth, it's not honest and not healthy discussion.

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:31:34

Star the way to safeguard women and girls is to not let men with penises who say they are women into women only spaces ( of any kind). And it’s not just about physical safety - it’s about dignity, privacy, well-being, and for some, religious or cultural beliefs.

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:32:10

No I dont think you are having an honest discussion either whereas there are people who I disagree with on here who are. Tou are not asking any questions I have repeatedly challenged the misogyny of lives and dresses like a woman and asked you what that means and why it's ok to use that phrase but you dont answer.
If you put men in womens spaces then they are no longer single sexed, mixed sex with safeguards is not single sex, no matter how much we pretend it is. You have taken away womens right to single sex spaces by placing men in them.

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:33:17

That should say you are not answering questions rather than the gobbledegook I wrote.

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:33:30

I haven't put men anywhere and neither have trans women.

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:34:38

And I believe firmly in actively discriminating against men in order to keep my rights to safe spaces, to access women only services, to request a woman care giver, to have my voice as a woman heard and not to be represented by a transwoman telling people how women feel.

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:35:56

What questions haven't I answered specifically from my not an expert on much of anything stance?

How can I?

When my belief is that there should be a way to keep everyone comfortable and safe without actively discriminating.

Because I acknowledge and understand that people are upset and have concerns

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:36:53

And not to have transwomen winning cycle races, or athletic events when competing against women

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:38:10

Transwomen are of the male sex if you argue for their inclusion in womens spaces then you (again generic you) have removed single sex provision. This is the nub of it I think you I guess believe that transwomen are women, I dont. I dont really see how that can be resolved without women losing out.

suziewoozie Sun 06-Sept-20 11:39:39

You can believe it all you want Star it doesn’t make it possible, feasible or desirable. It’s cloud cuckoo land which you’d realise if you were really aware of the hatred poured onto all women who dare publicly to criticise TRAs and defend women’s hard won rights

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:41:56

Yes I am finding it a bonus not to be told to die in a fire in this discussion, it's a nice change even if we are having a bit of a barney starblaze grin

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:42:36

It can galaxy in a safeguarding and physical sense but possibly not for people whose feelings dictate that transgender women allow male superiority in some fashion and that detracts from their own womanhood.

Its just difficult because not everyone has the same idea of what being a woman means

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:47:18

They do starblaze just some people pretend they dont.

Starblaze Sun 06-Sept-20 11:48:17

galaxy people who say that with any view in any discussion is just utterly appalling and when I see it happen from people on my side in any opinion its incredibly painful.

Its probably part of why I enjoy this forum more than some of the others that are available but... On the flipside, we are all for the most part older and likely more often set in our ways... So right or wrong, often discussion doesn't really change anything...

I really honestly truly tried to say that as politely as possible without making any sweeping generalisations so huge apologies if I mucked it up

Galaxy Sun 06-Sept-20 11:48:42

I am not being snippy I just dont believe that people have a different idea of what a woman is. I think they say that to be kind.