“Sanitary napkins” and “hygiene products” are outdated definitions and will be replaced in laws in the State of New York with the phrase “menstrual products”, reminding people that menstruation is a “natural body function” and not something dirty or something about which one should be ashamed.
The new New York legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hocul was co-sponsored by State Senator Roxanne J. Persuad, who said in a statement that it aims at removing social taboos, “combating period poverty, and ensuring equal dignity for all individuals who menstruate”, a turn of phrase as inclusive as possible. “Outdated terminology perpetuates stigma surrounding menstruation, which ultimately discourages conversations that enable access to basic resources” said Persuad.
The new terminology should be used in the domains of Correction Laws, Public Health Law and New York Tax Law.
However good the intention, people are not reacting positively. The “comments” section under the article detailing the new law on the Newsbreak site bridles with indignation, and many comments out of the almost 400 present are apparently from women.
“Will someone PLEASE take that $#&@+#! pen away from this woman? Work on important things like crime, illegals, homelessness, more policing and get off your high horse Hochul. Geesh” writes “Juli LeGrand”.
“State is going bankrupt, migrants everywhere, infrastructure collapsing and she is busy signing a bill about menstruation. Where is her brain. Obviously not on running the state” comments “Barbara Spadaccini”.
To which one “Adam N” replies “Not even about ACTUAL menstruation. Just about the TERMINOLOGY used to describe these products!! This doesn’t help women… this doesn’t help anyone!! The state is collapsing around her and this is what she focuses on?!?!?”
Other comments border on the insulting. Language is important in the definition of the world, but dealing with language doesn’t seem to be considered by many a worthy investment of time for public officials.
