Please proudly pass your pads

Maytinee Kramer/Staff

Every woman in the history of humanity has, or has had, a period. Most women today will menstruate approximately 500 times in their lives. Yet, women still remain perplexed by periods and most men are simply disgusted. As young girls, we are educated by our mothers, aunts, teachers and even magazines about our uterus shedding its lining, sending blood flowing out. Just this sentence alone may be enough to make one squirm. Menstruation and “feminine hygiene” has come a long way, yet society still dominates the taboo that surrounds a woman’s period.

When girls start their periods, many go through a journey of confusion, dread and silence. Periods can be painful. They cause backaches, cramps and emotional turmoil – girls have to go through this practically every month. Many women still shove sanitary pads or tampons up their sleeves on their way to the bathroom, even then, we try to remain as discreet as possible in a room full of other women.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most women menstruate once a month, with the average menstrual cycle being 28 days. Having a period is not only healthy, but highlights that your body is normal and properly functioning. Menstruation is a part of life. Naturally, there shouldn’t be any shame or embarrassment associated with it.

Men don’t really think about menstruation, because they don’t have to and because they don’t menstruate. As understanding as some men try to be, it’s really difficult to empathize with biological functions that are radically different from their own. However, this doesn’t warrant shaming and calling out a woman for bleeding once a month.

Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, a WHO scientist who’s worked in adolescent health for the past 20 years, stated to Independent, “In today’s world, if there’s nobody dying it’s not on anyone’s agenda.”

For something that has so many slang terms (Aunt Flo, crimson wave, on the blob, shark week), the period remains one of the most ignored human rights around the globe. In America alone, feminine hygiene products remain largely inaccessible, in addition to an imposed luxury tax in all but five states.

Rather than push aside the issue and act as if it doesn’t exist, men should man up, stop avoiding the subject and stop treating periods as something to be disgusted about. To take a step in the right direction and play a part in helping to destigmatize periods, men should actually engage in healthy discussions about menstruation with their female counterparts.

Women in turn, shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed about something that is a natural bodily function. Instead, we should be bonding over an experience half the population goes through. There is no shame in being a woman. It’s normal to hold a sanitary pad or tampon to go to the bathroom. It’s normal to pass a pad to a female friend or ask for one from her. Women should be proud of their bodies, and most importantly, have dignity throughout their menstrual process.

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

Image from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hygienematters/5505199381/in/photolist-i1Lc7P-aoQT1s-84SPjk-ejZ6u1-osxXrS-aEz9Qg-91RQ8u-ou9Dv-aDvjc5-8A8NXb-9otzYH-9v5kkU-96g1b9-4M3YkH-4N31jF-bkVbcP-4Nm5VS-bkVbcV-6R9uM9-4Nm5fN-55WCR4-bkVbdk-7My3gD-C85JE-92qi9q-92nbLk-92nbyv-7LXf96-bPLWpr-7MF57v-41hPS-6PrpZC-bkVbd2-4RnJXo-6Vyd4u-pR4HGy-bkVbd8-9Q5kbz-8Y9u4t-mfAj7K-9Auwqu-eaPYMf-92nbEi-oZyHPe-4VEexU