Menstruation is the sloughing of the proliferated endometrium that occurs on a regular basis, in females of reproductive age of certain mammal species, after a failure of implantation of a viable, fertilized ovum. Now, normal regular menstruation lasts for almost about four days. Thus, the contemporary women are expected to have in-between 350 to 400 visits from Aunt Flo. The average blood loss during menstruation ranges from 25ml to 60 ml. There’s no normal period; it’s different for everyone. Thus, Menstruation is not a unitary experience and hence they do require care.
How is menstruation portrayed in this modern world?
Media advertising for menstrual products such as those which emphasizes the need for secrecy and which apparently focuses on 'hygiene', but in doing so, they in fact reinforce the dominant ideology that menstruation is 'dirty' as the underlying agent and source material from which to draw.
Also, many adult women have little to no expertise on the correct hygienic products and clinical facts. And hence this is where Awareness campaigns and advertisements enact their key roles. Furthermore, even though these guidelines seem to be a great starting point, we advise you to address these issues with trained adolescent-friendly health service clinics.
The Taboos and Myths related to menstruation:
From what I remember, genital shame has led women to self-objectify themselves with cynicism, as though the roots of origin navigate long back into its history of societal norms.
So, a formidable army of tarnished demigods, Hera with daddy issues and a personified deity, who I am fairly sure is Zeus in some guise. And you people wonder how come Medusa stood no chance.
Talk, right?
As much as girls need to know about periods, boys should too. Tell your brother, your father, or your mate about the discomfort you feel, the pain you endure, the possible severe cramps you brave, rather than just being bullied off of your own body.
Broaden their horizon, address your issues, educate them on topics such as these. For, the traction won’t be as swift, but don't lose hope; it will definitely take time for them to accept, but I am quite sure you might engage some positives. Not gonna lie, but if nothing, you could really use these goblins writing thesis and head canons about it. Haha.
Societal patriarchy at its best:
Negative attitudes toward menstruation are concerned with negative body image and its attribute towards credited sexuality that accounts for having serious health consequences if women do not realize their abnormal symptoms, which might possibly be a sight for endometriosis, fibroids, gynecological cancer, or even other problems that need immediate healthcare. People's attitude towards menstruation may cause young women to prefer ignorance over education, as shame and embarrassment reasons them into avoiding talk about menstruation or even worse, learning.
This guide might be handy when you encounter periods be it directly or indirectly, throughout your lives. Whether it be with your family members, your colleagues, or even complete strangers. You might never know when you get a chance to be someone's Messiah –half of us population menstruate right!?