Small disclaimer: I understand that not all people who read the newsletter are people that menstruate, however, please do not stop reading for this reason as this one is also meant for the non-menstruators. I hope it will provide some insights and or discussion topics. Additionally, I try to limit binary gendering, as not all people who menstruate identify as women and not all people who do not menstruate identify as men.
You go to the bathroom, and you find out your period has started and you do not have a pad or anything with you. Oh no! Now you have to awkwardly and as inconspicuously as possible, ask someone if they have something you can use. So embarrassing right, but why? Why do we feel embarrassed talking about something that happens almost every month to half of the world population? And why do most of us feel like we have to hide it, especially from people who do not menstruate and behave like we are fine, even if we are in pain? Why does it feel safer to say that we are sick rather, than saying we are not feeling well due to our period? I think it is about high time we start talking about menstruation, how it affects the people who experience it and how non menstruaters and institutes can support.
Menstruation has affected the position of people who experience it throughout history and still does in a massive way. There may be physical and mental consequences, which for some people are quite severe and can cause them not being able to perform their work or partake in education, for several days a month. In the Netherlands, complaints connected to menstruation are often not taken serious by general practitioners, resulting in people just having to deal with it, rather than receiving medical support. Also, in a cultural context it has a big effect on menstruating peoples’ lives, from derogatory remarks like ‘oh, you are so emotional you must be having your period’ and being taken less serious, to people being completely excluded from society during the days they are menstruating.
Menstruation is an issue that has barely been raised by the feminist movement, at least in the west, perhaps because admitting that menstruation influences womens’ lives and functioning, means having to admit that there are differences between men and women after all. But it feels like it is a missed opportunity, that might have led to people feeling even stronger that they have to hide their menstruation.
It seems that there are still a lot of misconceptions about menstruation among people of all genders, and acting like it is a big taboo thing and we must behave like we are fine even when we are not, is not making things better. It also denies people who do not menstruate the opportunity to learn more about what menstruation can mean to us, ask questions and provide support.
So, let’s start opening up and share our experiences and explain to non-menstruators how it affects our bodies and minds. Let’s also start thinking what support can be given by society and institutes. On the other hand, people who do not menstruate can also start the conversation, for example by indicating they do not mind discussing the topic and / or asking if there is anything they can do to support. Only by opening up about this topic and providing information can we actually address it and improve the situation both for people who do and do not menstruate.
Written by Anouk de Plaa
