For People With Periods:

In a world full of “Feminine Hygiene” aisles covered in pink and fanciful tampon commercials loaded with laughing women, the act of menstruation is seen as a truly female one. The fact is, it is not.

We at Thinx admittedly contribute to this misconception. We wear our tagline, “For Women with Periods,” with great honour. We are proud feminists, and our mission, as a company, is to empower girls and women around the world.

But this week—Transgender Awareness Week—we are humbled. We feel it is our responsibility to remind ourselves, and all of you, that menstruation is not a trait of, nor a defining factor of, a specific gender. It is something that can occur amongst all people.

Over the past few months, we have received countless messages from the transgender community. We have received gentle reminders that women aren’t the only ones with periods (“she” isn’t the only one who “THINX,” if you will). These testimonials express the overwhelming challenges that come with gender dysphoria as a result of menstruation. We often forget that in the case of a female to male transition, periods don’t stop coming every month. For the trans* community, the cycle isn’t just a petty inconvenience as it is for so many of us, but rather a frequent, discomforting reminder of an ongoing battle.

These are complex topics that we should all be educated on. In fact, we were inspired to write this letter after reading Everyday Feminism’s “My Period and Me: A Trans Guy’s Guide to Menstruation.” We’ve also posted a glossary of common gender terms for your reference. We encourage you to read and share pieces like these with anyone and everyone you can.

We are here to join the conversation and raise the voices of those affected. We are here to say that bleeding does not make you female, it makes you human.

We are THINX: For People With Periods.

Sincerely,

Team THINX

by Team Thinx