Yesterday evening I got a message from a male friend asking what I was up to. I responded with, “Bleeding...packing and moving, you?” His jestful reply was “I love how you [women] love letting us know your vag is dripping with ewww.”
While this comment was a joke, many others would agree with the sentiment that periods are a “gross” or otherwise taboo topic. This may be, in part, because many societies have a long history of regarding women’s menstrual cycles as impure. (Speaking of which, the whole being-separated-from-men-and-only-being-able-to-touch-and-talk-to-other-girls-for-a-week thing doesn’t sound half bad).
Though we may be far removed from shoving bleeding women into tents together, we still have a don’t-ask-don’t-tell mentality about periods. We’re so uncomfortable, in fact, that we’ve come up with countless euphemisms for it -- “that time of the month,” “ladies week,” “shark week” (a favorite), “on the rag,” “getting a visit from Aunt Flo,” “a monthly visitor,” “having the painters in,” “surfing the crimson wave,” and more.
Allwomenstalk.com even has an article listing nine “classy” ways to say that you’re on your period -- because apparently plain old “I’m on my period,” is too crass.
I’ve come to find the level of disgust and disdain people have for menstruation hilarious. I make sure to be as vocal about my period as possible -- my cravings, my cramps, my clots, everything. Sometimes I’ll even send pictures (which goes over about as smoothly as you’d imagine).
But while I’m getting my giggles, other women feel a true sense of shame. Perhaps they were never taught to view the period as not only the shedding of the uterine lining, but a necessary and natural process that precedes the miracle of life.
A period is more than the body dispelling waste -- it signifies that you have the ability to create and to nourish, to form hands that will touch, feet that will run, noses that will smell, mouths that will speak and eyes that will see. We can form a stomach, then promptly fill it with the nutrients from our own bodies.
The people who feel that a woman should be reserved about their period are the same people who wouldn’t be present on this earth if they didn’t exist. Humanity is dependent on the menstrual cycle.
Getting society more comfortable with discussing periods is important for reasons beyond convenience (Hello to not having to convince teachers that you really do need to use the bathroom and no, this isn’t a matter of “holding it,”). It is a matter of self love and self care.
Unfortunately, not everybody takes the time to see their doctor or gynecologist as often as they should (which is a whole other issue) and most reproductive health is self-monitored and self-cared for. If women are afraid to even reference that they have a period, they’re probably a whole lot less likely to pay attention to their cycle. The menstrual cycle is very much a reflection of the inner rhythm of our bodies, and to ignore it would be to ignore important clues the body is giving us about our diet, mood, hormonal health, etc.
Investing in yourself is an important part of self love for anyone, but making the period a taboo topic robs many women of the gift of total self-exploration. It is important for women to find the products and practices that work best for their bodies to ensure that they are maintaining themselves. Open and honest period talk would allow women to share personal vaginal/menstrual care tips (Because menstrual health is not one tampon fits all).
It’s time to settle the bad blood that we have with menstruation -- no more ignoring a natural, healthy and shameless function of the human body. No more being embarrassed for being the reason the world goes ‘round.
