Can we maybe start calling “feminine hygiene products” just “period products” instead? Cuz like, gendering anatomy is 1) transphobic and 2) dysphoria inducing for lots of trans peeps, and also the whole point of calling it that to begin with is catering to the crusty patriarchy’s period phobia. So lets just… not do that anymore. “Period products” who’s with me

EDIT #1: It’s been pointed out that not all relevant items are specifically or exclusively for periods. After many suggestions I think the best one so far is:

“vaginal hygiene products” who’s with me

EDIT #2: “vaginal care products” is probably a better option than a term using “hygiene” in the name, since it’s been pointed out that anything using the word hygiene may/does reinforce the idea that periods/vaginas are dirty.

HOWEVER it’s also been pointed out to me by a bunch of other trans guys that the word “vagina” itself can be triggering. I’m a trans guy but this isn’t a problem I personally have, so I wasn’t thinking about it.

It’s important for the USA to stop being phobic of that word, but I don’t want to come up with a “solution” to a transphobic term that is in turn still inaccessible to trans people.

Currently there is no suggested term for this that I’ve seen that checks all the boxes but I’m looking and thinking about it. A euphamistic one that isn’t bad is “shark week” but that only applies to periods (same problem as my original suggestion). In the meantime just referring to each item individually is probably best I guess.

EDIT #3: “Intimate hygiene products” is another possibility, though “intimate products” might be better, considering the previously mentioned issue with the word “hygiene”. And yes, I know that “hygiene” doesn’t NECESSARILY imply that something is dirty, but I’m looking for a term that has as few problematic implications as possible.

I feel like “Intimate products” would be a term that would cover all bases of genital health/wellness, which would actually include condoms. 1) They’re always in the same aisle in all the stores I’ve been to anyway, and 2) removing the gender specific associations AND stigma from BOTH these products would be generally beneficial, and (I think) not detrimental to anyone, so I see no actual problem with merging the two.