An absorbent article having a distribution member comprising non-biopersistent inorganic vitreous microfibers. The microfibers have an average effective diameter between about 0.1 micron and about 6 microns and are arranged in a fibrous assembly having a basis weight between about 40 g/m2 and about 350 g/m2 and a density between about 0.04 g/m3 and about 0,25 g/m3. In preferred embodiments, the fibrous assembly can vertically wick a 0.9% saline solution to a height of 5 cm in less than about 5 minutes.