Staff Reports
The Biden administration is making changes to the language used at the federal level to be more inclusive. The Department of Labor recently released guidance on how employers can create a more accommodating workplace for individuals who menstruate. The guidance uses gender-neutral terms like “menstruators” and “menstruating employees” instead of using terms like “women” or “females.”
The department emphasizes the importance of recognizing menstruation as a natural part of people’s lives without specifying which portion of the population experiences it. The guidance encourages employers to provide a variety of period products to ensure access and privacy for menstruating employees.
#Menstruation affects half the U.S. workforce but talking about it at work can be taboo. For #MenstrualHygieneDay, here are 5 easy actions employers can take to help menstruators thrive at work. https://t.co/IwXzPD9huY #PeriodFriendlyWorld #MHD2024
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) May 29, 2024
Some social media users have expressed confusion and disagreement with the use of these gender-neutral terms, stating that the guidance seems to demonstrate uncertainty about who menstruates. Additionally, the Biden administration has previously used terms like “birthing people” instead of “mothers” in its Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which has garnered criticism and mockery.
Overall, the guidance from the Department of Labor aims to create a more inclusive and stigma-free environment for menstruating individuals in the workplace.
