'I wrote an article about peas and got accused of "neutering women"'

An article about the health benefits of peas led to unexpected controversy. After publication, many comments focused not on peas but on a phrase used while discussing iron deficiency anaemia. The phrase described the condition as more common in people who menstruate. Commenters accused the writer of hypocrisy and used hostile insults and claims, including accusations of “neutering women.” The comments continued for days and were removed under moderation. The controversy centered on gender inclusion and trans inclusion, with outrage sparked by a small, scientifically accurate statement. The biological basis was blood loss from menstruation, not gender identity, and the statement was intended to reflect who menstruates, including post-menopausal and trans women.

"I recently wrote an article about the health benefits of peas. If I am honest, I did not expect it to generate much interest, let alone controversy. In fact, the biggest issue I anticipated was being called a hypocrite by my family, because despite writing about their nutritional benefits, I do not actually like peas very much myself. My children love them though, so they still regularly appear on our dinner table."

"Instead, commenters had become fixated on a single phrase I used while discussing iron deficiency anaemia, which I described as being more common in "people who menstruate". One commenter accused me of having "a pea for a brain". Another accused me of "neutering women". Comments continued throughout the weekend until they were eventually removed under the publication's moderation policy."

"What struck me most was not that debates around gender exist. I was already aware of the hostility that sadly often surrounds trans inclusion. What surprised me was how little it took to provoke that debate. A small, scientifically accurate phrase in an article about vegetables was enough to provoke days of outrage."

"I used the phrase deliberately, although without anticipating it would become controversial. Iron deficiency anaemia is more common in people who menstruate because menstruation involves blood loss. That is the relevant biological factor, not gender identity. Of course, many women menstruate. But not all women do, including post-menopausal women and trans women."

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