The Lengths One Fantastic Underwear Company Went To Be Inclusive Are Sweet And Impressive
This landed in my coworker's inbox, and we just had to share it with you. It's good juju. Oh, and in case you were wondering, we were NOT paid to post this!
To People With Periods:
In a world full of “Feminine Hygiene” aisles covered in pink and fanciful tampon commercials loaded with laughing women, the act of menstruation is seen as a truly female one. The fact is, it is not.
We at THINX admittedly contribute to this misconception. We wear our tagline, “For Women with Periods,” with great honour. We are proud feminists, and our mission, as a company, is to empower girls and women around the world.
But this week—Transgender Awareness Week (#TransWk) —we are humbled. Being a conscious company, we feel it is our responsibility to send a reminder that menstruation is not a trait of, nor a defining factor of, a specific gender. It is something that can occur amongst all people.
Periods can be a source of extreme shame and embarrassment— and not always because of the cultural implications that we so often speak of. For some, menstruation is something that causes deep emotional turmoil, simply due to its rigid association with the female gender and all that comes with it.
Over the past few months, we have received many gentle reminders that women aren’t the only ones with periods (“she” isn’t the only one who “THINX,” if you will). The transgender community has also expressed the overwhelming challenges that come with gender dysphoria as a result of menstruation. We often forget that in the case of a female to male transition, periods don't stop coming every month. For the trans* community, the cycle isn't just an inconvenience, as it is for so many of us, but rather a frequent, discomforting reminder of an ongoing battle.
These are complex topics that we should all be educated on. In fact, we were inspired to write this letter after reading Everyday Feminism's "My Period and Me: A Trans Guy's Guide to Menstruation." We've also posted a glossary of gender terms for your reference. We encourage you to read and share pieces like these with anyone and everyone you can.
We are here to join the conversation and raise the voices of those affected. We are here to say that bleeding does not make you female, it makes you human.
We are THINX: For People With Periods.
Sincerely,
Team THINX