Can a machine boost men’s empathy for pregnant women? Let’s try it out on Trump | Opinion
Thanks to modern technology, men can now (sort of) experience the pain of menstrual cramps, the discomfort of pregnancy, the agony of labor and the intense hot flashes of menopause.
And no, this is not a joke.
An array of devices that simulate everything from labor pains to weight gain are intended to give men insight into what women go through during the various stages of their reproductive lives.
To mimic menstrual cramps or labor contractions, for example, electrodes placed on the lower belly deliver mild-to-strong electrical impulses.
More sophisticated, vest-like contraptions like the Empathy Belly provide a “medically accurate simulation” of over 20 symptoms of pregnancy, including back aches, shortness of breath, exhaustion, fatigue, increased body temperature, weight gain, difficulty bending over, frequent need to urinate, etc.
And the MenoVest, which claims to “empower menopause support,” delivers intense hot flashes. It’s recommended for use in the workplace to “cultivate conversations, develop empathy and foster allyship, accelerating workplace inclusivity.”
These devices do come with a caveat, however. For instance, the intensity of labor cannot be replicated by a machine.
“Based on widespread consensus from women who have given birth, medical experts, and the nature of labor itself, a labor pain simulation machine is not comparable to the experience of real childbirth,” advises Google AI.
Trump’s advice is from the Middle Ages
Still, if these “empathy” devices can deliver even a small measure of the discomfort and pain associated with periods, pregnancy and menopause, they should be required training for most, if not all, men — especially those who are in a position to advise women on their reproductive health.
Men like President Donald J. Trump, who recently told pregnant women to “tough it out” rather than take Tylenol, due to an alleged but unproven link between prenatal use of the over-the-counter drug and autism.
He’s sending women back to the Middle Ages.
“You’ll be uncomfortable, it won’t be as easy maybe, but don’t take it,” the president warned. “If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol.”
That advice was contradicted by many medical professionals, including Dr. Bill Cassidy, the Republican senator from Louisiana. “The preponderance of evidence shows that this is not the case,” he posted in response to the purported link between Tylenol and autism. “The concern is that women will be left with no options to manage pain in pregnancy. We must be compassionate to this problem.” (Thank you, Dr. Cassidy.)
Keep in mind, Tylenol isn’t just for discomfort; acetaminophen also reduces fever, which can pose its own risks for pregnant mothers and their babies.
A few studies claim to have found a link between Tylenol and autism, but as reported by the nonpartisan news organization Tangle, “larger and more robust studies” found no causal link.
“Why would the FDA ignore those findings and cherry-pick their chosen studies?” Tangle managing editor Ari Weitzman was inspired to ask.
“I’m speculating, but maybe Secretary Kennedy (who has a tendency to blame ‘Big Pharma’ for all of society’s ills) felt somewhat predisposed to find a causal link with Tylenol, since ‘Tylenol causes autism’ has become a recent companion to the ‘vaccines cause autism’ mantra and many of his friends happen to be suing Tylenol in court.”
While it does make sense to continue autism research, blaming Tylenol appears to have been woefully premature.
But that didn’t stop the president, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and other dignitaries, to claim to have made a historic breakthrough in the fight against autism.
Once again, women’s reproductive health is sacrificed to political expediency.
Are ‘empathy devices’ the answer?
Perhaps it’s naive to expect “empathy devices” to give men more insight into women’s reproductive health concerns.
There is something a little gimmicky about these simulators, sort of like those robotic “babies” that high school students were required to carry around as a preview of parenthood, in the hope of discouraging teen pregnancies. (At least one study showed that teen pregnancies actually increased.)
And it doesn’t help that many of the venues where period and pregnancy simulators are often demonstrated — county fairs, health expos, rodeos, and, of course, home videos — create a playful, almost carnival-like atmosphere that downplays the seriousness of the topic.
(As an example, listen to a “This American Life” podcast that documented reactions of dozens of men who were hooked up to a period-pain simulator at the Great Stampede, an annual rodeo in Calgary. Or check out the many videos of men testing out the devices on TikTok and YouTube.)
Yet they can inspire conversation, which is a breakthrough given that for centuries, men in positions of authority have been ignoring or dismissing the discomfort and pain often associated with periods, pregnancy and menopause. Unfortunately, examples still abound, and they aren’t limited to President Trump.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk asked the expectant mother of one of his children to have a cesarean delivery because he believes C-sections result in bigger brains. (They do not. And the woman wisely refused Musk’s request.)
So please, bring on the simulators. And crank them up to 11.
This story was originally published September 28, 2025 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Can a machine boost men’s empathy for pregnant women? Let’s try it out on Trump | Opinion."
