Women’s day just went by a few days ago, and I talked about my experience getting hairless as a woman. Today, going delve into real but more complex things that generally are avoided of being spoken about, however, this is a part of every woman’s life and celebrating womanhood without covering this aspect of matter is not cool. Every woman bleeds and I don’t mean with tears.
Every female human species bleed and I don’t mean with tears
When a girl’s reproductive organs mature, she enters womanhood and menstruates every month till she enters the time of menopause, where she ceases to have periods.
This menstruation phase is a dashed long period as well, starts anytime when a girl enters age (10 - 15 years) and stays till the lady well passes middle age (40 - 50 years).
Menstruation times are not all easy although women don’t show it
Men may not know as they can’t relate with this, but this is a dashed irritating period where women go through pain and it’s uncomfortable needing to ensure that the bleeding does not leak over and stain the garment backside where one can’t see. This involves changing of period products quite frequently.
Women get tired, fatigued and often are hesitant to do major physical activities that are fun and adventurous - running, trekking etc . Lower abdomen and back pains are common, yet women get used to this, for they know it’s going to be a major part of their lives.
Women eventually adapt themselves and learn to engage in their normal activities as best as they can, during their menstruation days.
Being a woman is not easy!!
Also, it’s generally hard being a woman, keeping those estrogen and other hormones in balance, as they are susceptible to a lot of problems otherwise with irregular periods that are painful, uncomfortable.
That’s why many menstruating women are anemic, because they bleed heavy. This is why sometimes, I feel women have it tougher than men, so obviously they got to be stronger than them, and I heard that all what a woman undergoes grooms her to be emotionally stronger than men.
Physically, I don’t want to debate this but she bleeds red every month, gives birth, that kind of strength is certainly women’s strength, not to be dismissed lightly.
Periods is a essential burden for a women, as it defines motherhood
Ultimately, this period process is mostly essential for women, for it defines motherhood, although I wish this period/menstruation stuff can end way earlier , rather than 45 - 50’s, hell I wish it can end by late 30’s itself or atleast early 40’s, but anyway.
Discussion on Menstruation with mixed genders is required
In conservative societies, talking about periods is taboo of course, yet discussing this is very important and I can mention some reasons.
Period Leave -:
I read about this term, few years back in papers. It’s a fact that women’s bodies need to rest during peak menstruation times, which is mostly on the 2nd day - 3rd day. And a period leave for women every month would grant her 2 days leave due to period issues. However, in India, it’s hard for women to talk about this to male bosses, and many don’t understand it or empathise with women on this issue.
So, it’s always better to discuss this in a group with mixed genders, so all can understand that menstruation is not an easy time for the ladies. Let them take rest, or work from home that time, after all she still has lots of tiring house chores to do.
Women friendly environment required -:
Again in my country, in small offices, toilets are not equipped to cater to menstruating women. A dustbin is a must, for toilet paper use is not common here, and most of the ladies use sanitary pads which needs to be thrown away.
Even this basic stuff is lacking in most places and women are shy to ask for this too. Arrangements for proper disposal of those sanitary napkins are required too. However, there are ways to avoid using these period products that contribute to “reject waste” that ends up in landfills which I will talk about in another article as this relates to sustainable menstruation.
Sustainable Menstruation is a term used where earth friendly products are used to manage menstruation, an alternative to disposables like sanitary napkins and tampons. Won’t discuss this here, but in an article will discuss it.
For a woman’s ultimate wellbeing -
Awareness on how to stay balanced and keep those hormones in balance is required. Daily exercise, healthy eating habits and knowing ways to manage stress can ease a woman during her period time, for regular and pain free periods. A strong woman can manage being adventurous during period times too, but for that she takes care of her health.
So, in general I feel if we want women to be happy, we must be open to talk about menstruation because it’s an intrinsic part of their lives.
Why life is hard for a women as compared to their male counterparts at least in conservative societies
There are many worries for a woman that only women can relate to and it’s harder for women in conservative countries or half conservative countries like mine ,India. They feel vulnerable. All though they go through strain of menstruation, they are considered weaker sex, to be gaurded from sexual exploitation. Many women live in fear, anxiety, and it’s horrible to read news of rapes and they happen so often in my country that many consider letting women live alone and be single very risky and some places even inappropriate.
I can imagine fears of every women - unwanted pregnancy, and there is still that taboo of premarital sex, so it’s uncomfortable and embarassing for them to go to the gynec, if they are unmarried and have issues(and women’s constitution is complicated and sensitive, they get gynec problems when their bodies are not in balance weather they had intercourse or not).
To hell with these things, suffice to say that women live way more guardedly than men, they enjoy the outside world way less than men because of fear of sexual harassment or because they are told that they are weak and cannot pursue activities that are adventurous or because she is home bound with responsibilities.
Women are strong people too, a gender can’t define the strength of a person - Period!!
I end this here, just thought of emphasising that being a woman is not easy, although I never consider them weak as each are strong to her ability. We have to build strength day by day and feel strong ourselves, we cannot be defined by stereotypes that restrict us to be living freely.
And to all the strong women, my bow to you. There are untold women who broke the glass ceilings from being the first woman to climb mount everest, to one who dared to divorce and live on her own terms rather than a compromised life, to women who proved their worth at work places and much much more.
The least we can do to tribute to those amazing women , is build our strength, our character and aspire to be a strong person whatever our gender.
A fair and free world for all genders - Women deserves to be happy and free
Lastly there is absolutely no doubt women can do anything she wants, even if it involves more struggle, that struggle would only make her stronger. They too should be free to live as they want, be adventurous, wild, crazy, although atleast in my country she will have to be careful, vigilant for crimes against women are quite a lot, but that does not mean we women are going to be caged, never as we refuse to accept a world anymore that is not fair and gentlemanly to us.
HA!!