2008 Woodie Awards
The monthly moon time curse of the invading communists
Brittany Davis
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinions
A couple weeks ago I wrote about the cultural phenomenon that affects millions of women but doesn't exist: PMS. I suppose it's only a logical step to talk about menstruation. Menstruation affects more women than PMS and since it leaves visible proof no one can argue its existence. The argument is in how it's thought of by society and experienced by the women who menstruate. For some reason, and I suspect misogyny, something that happens to about half the population on a fairly regular basis gets treated like it's some sort of monthly sickness that is just too disgusting to be talked about. Well, I'm changing that.
As often as menstruation happens, I feel that women should talk about it. I don't mean in hushed whispers while you furtively try to ask the closest woman to you for a tampon or a sanitary napkin. I also don't mean in any of the apologetic ways menses often get talked about so as not to offend or gross out any males who may be in earshot. Having a menstrual cycle isn't something to be embarrassed by or ashamed of; it's a natural part of being a woman and should be embraced and owned.
A woman's menses shouldn't be dreaded. Instead, it should be celebrated! Menarche should be met with celebrating womanhood, fertility and life. The resulting blood shouldn't be seen as gross but as the body purging itself and renewing its ability to support and bring forth new life. Well, that's my opinion on it anyway. However, in talking to my female friends of all ages I've learned that my kind of view on menstruation is fairly uncommon. The feelings surrounding menstruation vary greatly, and even more varied and entertaining are the different names for it.
Some women see menstruation completely differently due to religious reasons. One transgender friend of mine hates menstruation because it's a monthly reminder that despite his best efforts, he's in a female body. My pagan friends refer to it as their moon time and feel more in tune with goddess energies. Some of them hate the pain and emotional depression that comes before it but have no bad feelings about menstruation itself. My mother treats it like a curse and is looking forward to menopause. Some women I know use different birth control methods to shorten or do away with periods, while most see it as the lesser of two evils.
Not to go dismissing women's views of their bodies and how they operate, but if your body is going to do something over 300 times in your life, why not make something good out of it? One of the fun things is sitting around telling period stories and coming up with period euphemisms. The most common and memorable are:
-The curse
-Tom
-Aunt Flow
-The communists are invading
-The British are coming
-Surfing the crimson wave
-The red scare
My personal favorite one isn't able to be put into a catchy name. Like a friend of mine, who shares my name, once said, "I have super powers. I can bleed for days and not die!" I totally agree. Women should be proud of their menses not ashamed of them.
As often as menstruation happens, I feel that women should talk about it. I don't mean in hushed whispers while you furtively try to ask the closest woman to you for a tampon or a sanitary napkin. I also don't mean in any of the apologetic ways menses often get talked about so as not to offend or gross out any males who may be in earshot. Having a menstrual cycle isn't something to be embarrassed by or ashamed of; it's a natural part of being a woman and should be embraced and owned.
A woman's menses shouldn't be dreaded. Instead, it should be celebrated! Menarche should be met with celebrating womanhood, fertility and life. The resulting blood shouldn't be seen as gross but as the body purging itself and renewing its ability to support and bring forth new life. Well, that's my opinion on it anyway. However, in talking to my female friends of all ages I've learned that my kind of view on menstruation is fairly uncommon. The feelings surrounding menstruation vary greatly, and even more varied and entertaining are the different names for it.
Some women see menstruation completely differently due to religious reasons. One transgender friend of mine hates menstruation because it's a monthly reminder that despite his best efforts, he's in a female body. My pagan friends refer to it as their moon time and feel more in tune with goddess energies. Some of them hate the pain and emotional depression that comes before it but have no bad feelings about menstruation itself. My mother treats it like a curse and is looking forward to menopause. Some women I know use different birth control methods to shorten or do away with periods, while most see it as the lesser of two evils.
Not to go dismissing women's views of their bodies and how they operate, but if your body is going to do something over 300 times in your life, why not make something good out of it? One of the fun things is sitting around telling period stories and coming up with period euphemisms. The most common and memorable are:
-The curse
-Tom
-Aunt Flow
-The communists are invading
-The British are coming
-Surfing the crimson wave
-The red scare
My personal favorite one isn't able to be put into a catchy name. Like a friend of mine, who shares my name, once said, "I have super powers. I can bleed for days and not die!" I totally agree. Women should be proud of their menses not ashamed of them.
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