We need to talk about menstruation. Contrary to the views of a very famous author, using the word "menstruator" is not an attempt to erase the word "woman". The word menstruator is used to describe people who menstruate. This is not the same as women.
I'm a 34 year old woman and for most of my adult life have not menstruated due to a variety of contraception, pregnancy and breastfeeding. When decisions are being taken on access to free sanitary products those who menstruate should be able to access them, not just women.
We are seeing increased incidence of precocious puberty. Girls are starting menstruation at a young age in some instances. These are not women. They are girls. But they are also menstruators.
Trans men menstruate and have cervixes/ovarian cancer. They are not women but they are menstruators. Post-menopausal women are women, but not menstruators.
The two terms mean different things and are used in different circumstances. The term menstruator is not used to erase the term woman. It's used to describe those who menstruate. I am a woman. I am not a menstruator.
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