AOC Derided for Using The Term 'Menstruating Persons' While Discussing Texas Abortion Law

Earlier this week, the US Supreme Court voted by a majority not to suspend a Texas law that bans "late" abortions. The law is considered the most draconian of its kind and has sparked heated debates.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been mocked online after she used the term “menstruating person" while discussing the Texas Heartbeat Act which prohibits abortions after six weeks, during an interview with CNN’s "Anderson Cooper 360".

She said that the law was not about supporting life, but about controlling “women’s bodies” and “people who are not cisgender men".

"None of this is about supporting life. What this is about is controlling women’s bodies and controlling people who are not cisgender men. This is about making sure that someone like me as a woman or any menstruating person in this country cannot make decisions over their own body," she said.

Her peculiar choice of words prompted controversial reactions on Twitter as some found them somehow offensive.

Hard to argue that this is an attack on women when you simultaneously abort their existence with “menstruating person.” https://t.co/up5GhJxpC1

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 8, 2021

"It's mind-blowing how broken the logic is for people like #AOC. And you can even hear her in her head thinking about -- instead of just saying 'woman', she's thinking 'menstruating person'. - @ClayTravis pic.twitter.com/hn09iNhRxd

— Clay & Buck (@clayandbuck) September 8, 2021

I can’t take someone seriously who uses a phrase like menstruating person with a straight face.

— Gravity (@GrndMstrGravity) September 8, 2021

That the term “menstruating person” even exists tells me that people have way too MUCH autonomy over their own bodies.

— George W. Smith, from City Council (@Blckdmndskr) September 8, 2021

“Menstruating person” please stop. Say females.

— Anne Flaherty 🌊 (@AnneEFlaherty) September 8, 2021

In the spirit of compromise, I’m fine with an exception to the law for all “menstruating persons.” https://t.co/W8ZiaOlMkk

— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) September 8, 2021

Others went deeper and found mistakes in Ocasio-Cortez's words.

Isn’t she acknowledging that the people she calls “cisgender men” are completely different from “trans men” and therefore, the “trans men are men” rhetoric is a fallacy?

— Sonia (@SoniaChanel617) September 8, 2021

But some weren't in the least bit rattled by what she said.

I don’t even like her, but she isn’t wrong. The Menstruating comment is to distinguish a “biological woman” which is what this issue is about. With our gender neutral society a “woman” has to be scientifically explained as not to offend. This is the society that is being created.

— Penny Nall (@Pnall81) September 8, 2021

The Democrat politician, who is a representative for New York's 14th congressional district, hit back claiming that "trans men & non-binary people can also menstruate."

Not just women! Trans men & non-binary people can also menstruate.

Some women also *don’t* menstruate for many reasons, including surviving cancer that required a hysterectomy.

GOP mad at this are protecting the patriarchal idea that women are most valuable as uterus holders. pic.twitter.com/BJovcw1qPa

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 8, 2021

The law, that came into force in Texas last week, in most cases prevents abortion after the fetal heartbeat can be heard - usually after about six weeks of pregnancy. The ban applies to all pregnancies - even those which are the result of rape or incest. In addition, the law allows anyone to sue violators, and awards $10,000 to plaintiffs in case of their success in court.