Stop hiding periods from men
FROM THE verses of the Bible to the cultural norms of our society, the period has always been seen as something that women must keep to themselves, and especially away from men. One verse in Leviticus says, “When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.”
Looking at this verse, we can understand why we make such an effort to keep periods a secret so as not to offend anyone. I suppose I can see where such a rule might have been practical at the time when it was written due to a lack of the conveniences of indoor plumbing and sanitation services, but in 2018, when women are no longer confined to our homes and are actually able to function while menstruating, these rules no longer apply. In the 21st century, periods have become easier to handle, so the effort to keep it away from men is not only unnecessary, but then counterproductive to a healthy relationship. So many women complain that their male partners are insensitive and don’t support them or even understand how to respond to them while they menstruate.
We have effectively kept men out of the loop when it comes to female reproductive health, except when it comes to sex. For some men, the idea of going to the store to purchase feminine products is absurd, let alone washing female underwear. Even handling the clean underwear is a threat to his manhood. We must challenge these ideas and push back on the idea that men are somehow negatively impacted just by handling feminine garments or products.
Women have a major role to play in changing this narrative, and it starts with what we teach our son. When boys are taught to be dismissive and scornful, they become insensitive men who are unable to empathise with the challenges faced by the women in their lives. So ladies, let’s invite men to the conversation, and don’t wait until it’s life and death. Take them shopping and show them how to choose the right product. Explain why women have mood fluctuations while they’re menstruating and tell them what you need from them on the difficult days. It’s time for men to get out of the dark, sunken place of ignorance and bask in the glow of knowledge. Because after all is said and done, ‘period’ is not a dirty word.