In the beginning, a woman was tempted by the idea of wisdom and broke the rules for a chance at knowledge. And then all women were cursed with painful childbirth, which includes having periods. And ever since that day, there has been an understanding that periods are the ultimate kryptonite of every woman and at least once month we are weak, messy, and crazy.
But a woman having her period is one of the most badass things in nature.
PMS is intense. The lining of the uterus is peeling off and escaping the body through the vagina. Yeah, there are cramps, but the symptoms can vary for every woman. There’s also bloating, intense fatigue, dizziness, nausea, hot flashes, loss of appetite, and more. Plus the constant hassle of pads and tampons. And yet at the end of the week, one woman stands victorious, yet another period defeated.
When I’m laying on the bathroom floor waiting for the Midol to kick in, I think about how many women around the world are dealing with the same pain as me. And in about 10 minutes we’ll get up and go to work or school and do what we have to do, even though we’re dying inside. I think about the Olympics. Out of all of those amazing, strong women, someone is probably skiing down some insane moguls on her period. Or what about women in the army? They’re still going to suit up and do their duty, and you better believe they won’t let the men around them question whether or not a woman is fit to fight on her period.
There's such a connection between women because of menstruation. We work hard every day and then for at least seven days a month we work hard even though our bodies are attacking us. Even if the pain isn’t too bad, the period will make the woman’s life harder, and she fights through it anyway. I may be on my period, but that won’t keep me from putting on my highest heels and going to my classes and work all day. This determination has been happening forever. Women didn’t always have jobs, but they always had to fight through their period. Once a month they threw a cloth in their underwear and continued to take care of their homes and families.
In elementary school we learn about periods and naturally become scared and worried about the pain and blood. But a few years later we’ll be giving class presentations and going to school for seven hours even though we are bleeding out. That’s a 13-year-old girl, standing there like nothing is wrong even though she wants to scream or faint.
When guys get grossed out over periods, I’m glad. They should be disgusted. Periods are torture and I am proud to say that I am stronger than them. When I am on my period, I feel sick and tired, but overall I feel like a freaking badass.
