The Department of Labor's use of the term "menstruators" to refer to biological females has sparked widespread backlash, with critics accusing the agency of eroding women's rights and language.
The Department of Labor's (DOL) attempt to adopt gender-neutral language in a social media post on Menstrual Hygiene Day has backfired spectacularly, triggering a storm of criticism from conservative commentators and women's rights advocates.
In a post shared on Wednesday, the DOL urged employers to create "more menstruation-friendly workplaces" and provided five tips on how to accommodate "menstruators." The term "menstruators" is used as a politically correct alternative to biological females.
The post immediately drew flak from numerous prominent figures, including Jewish conservative commentator Ron Coleman, who sardonically suggested using the term "WOMENstruators" instead. Fox News contributor Guy Benson argued that replacing the word "women" with "menstruators" is unnecessary and undermines the distinct sex class of biological females.
Journalist Wesley Yang accused the US government of "disaggregating women into a bundle of isolated parts and functions," while MRC's Brittany Hughes condemned the DOL's demand for workplace discussions on menstruation without acknowledging women's own reluctance. Gabriella Hoffman of the Independent Women's Forum decried the erasure of women and Brianna Lyman of The Federalist expressed outrage at being reduced to a "menstruator" to appease a "handful of mentally ill women" who identify as transgender men.
The backlash reflects a growing backlash against the progressive movement's push for gender-neutral language and the recognition of transgender identities. Critics argue that such language undermines the biological reality of sex and erodes the rights and protections that women have fought for decades to establish.
The DOL's use of the term "menstruators" has also raised concerns about the agency's understanding of women's health. The post's suggestion that employers provide access to paid sick leave and other accommodations for menstruation implies that all female employees experience severe symptoms that interfere with their ability to work. However, research shows that the majority of women experience relatively mild symptoms and do not require special accommodations.
The controversy over the DOL's language is likely to continue as the debate over gender and identity intensifies. Critics of gender-neutral language and transgender rights are likely to continue to push back against any attempts to redefine or erase the biological reality of sex.
