Tampon Shame Isn’t Natural, Menstruation Is

I look down at my bag, trying to figure out how I was going to maneuver my tampon out unnoticed. I could just take out my miniature black clutch where I kept all my supplies, but that would be too obvious right? I look up and around at my classmates to see if anyone was looking at me. Why would they decide to take their eyes off the teacher or whatever else may have their attention and look at me at that exact moment? Absolutely no reason. But I am still very paranoid.

It is a constant paranoia that follows me and makes me feel like there's a giant sign above my head that reads Warning: Menstruating Woman Coming Through.

'Okay just do it' I think to myself.

I reach into my backpack and into the black clutch I had previously unzipped in preparation for this moment. Cautiously, I grab a tampon from the bunch, slip it into my sleeve (while thanking myself for wearing long-sleeves), and sit back up. About a minute later, I get up and go to the bathroom. A few minutes later, I walk back to class with the feeling of a mission well accomplished. Thinking more clearly now, I pick up my pen and start taking notes. Now I can focus.

Every woman experiences her period differently, but what every woman does feel is the overall unpleasantness of the whole situation. I, for one, absolutely hate those few days where it feels like my body is against me. I have cramps that make me unable to move from the bed, I get extremely nauseous at the smallest of things, and my emotions are so sporadic that I feel the need to warn people to keep their distance.

On top of all of that, I am supposed to pretend like it is any other day, and that I don't feel like crawling back under the covers. When I'm riding the subway, walking down the street, waiting in line for coffee, I am constantly aware of the fact that I am on my period. It is a constant paranoia that follows me and makes me feel like there's a giant sign above my head that reads Warning: Menstruating Woman Coming Through.

However after hearing other women's experiences and feelings, it is justifiable to conclude that a majority of women, especially younger women, feel the need to be discreet and hide any actions that show they are on their periods.

Now I realize that there is easily a chance that I may be more paranoid than the average menstruating women. So I reached out to others to see if their periods came with a giant sign too, or if it was more of a small button pinned on their shirt. Here, some of their comments:

As expected, there is a wide range of emotions women feel when dealing with their period. However after hearing other women's experiences and feelings, it is justifiable to conclude that a majority of women, especially younger women, feel the need to be discreet and hide any actions that show they are on their periods.

Years and years of men being in charge and women being shamed for their bodies. When you look back at ancient and medieval times, it can be hard to find information about women on their periods because the male recorders didn't want to write about it. What is understood however is that women on their periods were often associated with magic and sorcery, with their being myths to explain why they bled and what the blood would do. There was also a lot of religious shame of periods as well. Women were told the cramps were to remind them of Eve's' original sin, they were not allowed to take communion while bleeding, or they were sent away to wait it out somewhere.

Today in the 21st century, society has learned the biology behind menstrual cycles and the appropriate sanitary supplies have been created to help women manage. However this underlying shame that has been embedded in menstrual discourse still remains.

In more developed parts of the world, women fight for period supplies like tampons and pads to be treated with the same amount of importance as the men making these decisions treat viagra. Movements were started to decrease or completely abolish the tax on these necessary products.

In lesser developed countries, women have to deal with much more than feeling paranoid. These cultures are more ingrained in their taboos on periods, considering the topic something people shouldn't openly discuss. In India and Bangladesh some women are not allowed to touch food or enter the kitchen on their periods. In Burundi, women cannot bathe near shared utensils out of fear that the blood will kill family members. In Venezuela, some women have to sleep in huts while they are bleeding.

Because of this shame, there is an extreme lack of education about the menstrual cycle and overwhelming lack of access to proper sanitary supplies. Many young girls are unaware of what a period is when they first start, leaving them ashamed and scared. Girls without access to a sanitary pad are forced to stay home from school and are at a higher risk for infections.

As we all continue to fight for things to be better for women at home and all around the world, let's also try to make them better for ourselves. Yes this is easier said than done, but if we stop feeling shame when menstruating, and aim for an attitude that expresses how natural the product is, maybe men will be forced to see it as well.

However this underlying shame that has been embedded in menstrual discourse still remains.

In the quotes given above, many women mention that much of their shame started when they were teenagers in middle or high school. If we aspire to change the mindset of young girls to not be ashamed of their period, because it is, of course, one of the most natural parts of life, then we may be able to stop this shame from manifesting and staying with women as they mature and step into their adult lives. We must aim to show men that they can not impose thoughts about us over something they could never fully understand. This type of change can not and will not come easily, but the first step of any change starts with a public conversation.

This piece was originally published Mat 15, 2019.