As a woman, I can say with confidence that periods are zero fun – a monthly reminder of the joys of being a member of the fairer sex.
While not enjoyable, it’s something all women go through (at least for a large part of their lives), and women have braved their periods for as long as human beings have existed.
Most of us get by with some Advil or other drugs of choice.
A group of nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers, however, is on the case to “help” women with this most intrinsic of conditions – introducing legislation that would mandate paid time off for women who are on their period, among other reproductive-related occurrences.
If women don’t get this special treatment? That’s “economic violence,” the lawmakers claim. Men could get time off for vasectomies, but the bill is mostly aimed at women.
Like most progressive efforts to force perks on employers, this one would likely backfire – making women seem less desirable to hire in the first place.
The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, introduced in March, would provide up to 12 days of paid leave a year for menstrual pain, abortion, menopause, perimenopause and miscarriage.
The bill is part of a broader package called the Health, Equity, and Rights (HER) Agenda, led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona.
Mandated period paid time off will lead to fewer jobs, less pay
In May, Ansari – the youngest woman in Congress at 34 – and several other Democratic colleagues held a news conference to promote the legislation.
“Forcing a worker to choose between paying her rent or losing a day’s pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure is not a choice,” Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva said. “It’s an economic violence.”
“No one should have to choose between their paycheck and their health to be able to manage that kind of incredible pain,” Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib said at the news conference.
Not surprisingly, the legislation is endorsed by far-left groups such as Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Earlier this year, Ansari wrote an opinion column in Time magazine explaining the pain she goes through during her period.
“I may be the youngest woman serving in Congress, but this pain is older than me, older than my mother, older than my grandmothers,” she wrote. “They endured it in silence. Future generations shouldn’t have to.”
What Ansari may not realize is that in pushing for this additional paid time off, she’s undermining another perennial Democratic priority: “paycheck fairness.” Democrats love to complain about how women don’t get paid equally to men (not true, by the way).
Force employers to provide this much paid leave for women, and the result will be fewer jobs and lower pay – as other government mandates have done.
At least these Democrats recognize that women exist
Credit where it’s due: It’s nice to see Democratic lawmakers recognizing women as a distinct group with unique health concerns.
Democrats and progressives in recent years have struggled to define what a woman even is, prioritizing gender identity over biological sex.
In March 2025, Senate Democrats blocked legislation that would have demanded fairness in girls’ and women’s sports by preventing transgender athletes from playing on those teams – a position roughly 80% of Americans share.
Not all Democrats think periods are just for women, either. In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement is helping promote a “Trans Period Pride” event June 17 to raise awareness about “menstrual equity and the experiences of trans menstruators.” Everyone who attends is promised “free period underwear.”
The event has drawn some backlash but is still planned.
It’s fine for these Democratic lawmakers to raise awareness about the challenges of being a woman. But forcing paid time off for cramps? That’s a bad idea. Period.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Democrats want paid leave for periods. Women will pay the price. | Jacques
Reporting by Ingrid Jacques / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ingrid Jacques | USA TODAY Network
