Period Positivity #PP
We are introducing you to a weekly column on period positivity #PP. What is period positivity you ask? Period positive simply means having a positive and healthy attitude surrounding your menstrual cycle. It is a normal part of life that happens every 28 days for most of us. It is not disgusting. It is not a taboo, and we should talk about it.
No, it doesn’t mean you have to go around shouting about your periods everywhere you go, but it’s about creating a culture where women feel empowered to talk about their issues. According to the organization #periodpositive, if you are period positive, this means you are willing to confidently ask and/or frankly answer questions about periods, understand the importance for menstruators to chart their cycle and treat it as a vital sign, avoid passing on shame to others, and if you joke about it, that you make sure menstruators aren’t the butt of the joke.
Do you remember that one time that a man said that menstrual pain is a myth?
Or when another time someone complained that women talk about their periods too much?
But the truth is, according to Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 40% of women suffer from PMS (yes - it is a real thing) and 5 out of 8 women have a severe form which requires medical treatment. Some women suffer from painful periods also known as dysmenorrhea that can leave them bed-ridden for several days. So what we’re not going to do is shame women for something that they inevitably experience every month.
Have you ever wondered how ridiculous it is that many women feel they have to hide their sanitary products when going to the bathroom? I’m guilty of this too - subtly trying to stuff my pad into my back pocket as I beeline to the bathroom before I leak. I sometimes wonder if I am more scared of leaking or people finding out that I am on my period.
There is nothing to be scared or ashamed of. Periods aren’t bad. We need to be positive about it because we cannot live in shame of our own bodies, and we are the lucky ones because we have access to sanitary hygiene and medication to help us deal with it. Period positivity doesn’t happen in a day, but there are simple steps you can take each day to become more positive about your own.
