What do we mean by inclusion?
Menstrual cycle awareness is more than a 'women's health issue'
At Bloody Amazing, one of our values is Inclusivity. We understand and appreciate that not everyone who experiences a menstrual cycle, menopause and associated concerns feels included in the terms “women and girls". Therefore, we have tried to stick to the terms "women, girls and others with periods" to ensure the inclusion of everyone who is impacted by having a menstrual cycle. Everyone is welcome here. We aim to provide information that invites everyone to the conversation - those who experience periods and those who don't. This is because periods impact all of society - if you do not have a period yourself, then you will know someone who does. You might even know someone who has a period problem such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome and might require a bit more support.
We recognise that menstruation and associated concerns are issues impacting those who are biologically female. However, it also remains the case that there are people who do not feel the term “woman” or “girl” applies to them. It is also the case that some people who are intersex may experience periods and there are many biological females that for medical reasons or otherwise do not experience a period. When we use the term “people with periods” – we are not denying anyone’s right to woman or girlhood. Our information and services are relevant to everyone, regardless of their gender identity and whether that matches the gender that they were assigned at birth. We acknowledge that there are transgender and non-binary individuals for whom the terms "women" or "girls" do not apply, but that they may still have the experience of having a period or a menstrual cycle.
We firmly believe that information should be as accessible as possible to as many groups of people as possible. However, the terms “women and girls” may still feature from time to time, particularly when addressing those who have additional support needs who might find the term “people with periods” confusing and complicated. We appreciate that this is a controversial issue that many people have strong opinions about. Bloody Amazing will not tolerate any hate speech or speech that seeks to deny the existence of a person or their physical and/or emotional landscape.
Working with BME Communities:
At Bloody Amazing, we're committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring inclusivity in every aspect of our work. We recognise that menstruation and menopause are often taboo topics in many cultures, leading to misinformation and stigma that disproportionately affect black and minority ethnic women. That's why inclusivity is at the heart of our mission. We actively strive to create a safe and supportive environment where all individuals feel seen, heard, and understood to access factual information that will benefit their health, without fostering alienation. By prioritising diversity in our approach, we create safe spaces where women can seek peer support, ensuring that every woman, regardless of race or background, receives the care and support she is entitled to.
