MISLEADING
Claims that the USDA funded a "transgender study" misrepresented research focused on feminine hygiene products. The study examined product safety for people who menstruate, which was framed misleadingly to generate political outrage about government spending.
Conservative media outlets claimed the USDA was funding "transgender studies" with taxpayer money. The actual research focused on the safety and composition of feminine hygiene products used by menstruating individuals. The study's inclusive language, which referenced transgender men who menstruate, was taken out of context and framed as the primary focus of the research when it was actually about product safety for all users.
The Misleading Claim
Headlines claimed the USDA was funding "transgender studies" as an example of wasteful spending [1].
The framing implied the research was ideologically motivated rather than scientifically relevant [3].
The Actual Research
The study focused on feminine hygiene product safety, examining chemical compositions and health impacts [2].
Inclusive language was standard scientific practice, not the research's primary focus [1].
Pattern of Misrepresentation
This follows a pattern of taking inclusive scientific language and framing it as "woke" spending [11].
The actual scientific value of the research was ignored in favor of culture war framing [7].
Conclusion
Claims about a USDA "transgender study" were misleading. The research focused on feminine hygiene product safety. Inclusive language was taken out of context to generate political outrage.