When transgender model and activist Kenny Ethan Jones experienced his first period, he faced both physical and psychological pain. Initially, Jones, who had not yet come out as trans at the time, felt like he was losing control and didn’t understand what was happening to his body. However, one thing was clear, he didn’t feel like himself.
“I didn’t believe that having periods would be a part of my lived experience,” Jones said, “I felt isolated; everything about periods was tailored to girls, yet me, as a boy, was experiencing this and nothing in the world documented that.”
He experiences a wide range of challenges with his monthly bleeding, especially when it comes to getting his hands on menstrual hygiene products. Some transgender and gender-nonconforming people who menstruate, like Jones, say that when the products are categorized as women’s products, they feel alienated, and may even avoid purchasing them altogether. Having a period already causes them gender dysphoria but this dysphoria becomes heightened when they have to shop for a product that is labelled as ‘women’s health’ and in most cases, it is pretty and pink.
The hurdles some trans men and gender-nonconforming people who menstruate say they face include the high cost of period supplies, lack of access to the products, safety concerns and inadequate medical care. Not only are transgender individuals impacted by the cost of menstrual products, but they also may not have access to them when they are free. While they are sometimes available without cost in women’s restrooms, but those who menstruate who feel more comfortable using male restrooms will almost never have access to free tampons and pads. Some schools have taken steps to distribute free menstrual hygiene products across campus, specifically in women’s and gender-neutral restrooms and offices, but is that enough? While advocates applaud those prioritizing menstrual inclusivity, they argue these products should be in all restrooms. Homeless transgender men face similar barriers when accessing tampons and pads at shelters. Women’s shelters, if they can, will offer the products, while men’s shelters will likely have little to no options for those who menstruate.
The situation is more dreadful than what meets the eye. It is a torture for those who have not come out of the closet yet. Yes, accepting oneself is important but it is for us, the society to look into things that we could change for the better. We need to accept that the world is much more than what we have given meaning to it. We are actual people, human beings with emotions and feelings that makes us want to be a part of the world, where some of us have been shunned. It is not a disease that we have to keep behind closed doors and drawn curtains, or speak about in hushed voices. So we should be open minded and create an inclusive world for all those who call us with a cry for help.
-Bidisha Dam
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