“In order for women to accept themselves everyday of the month, cultures must change the way menstruation is viewed, and women themselves must take control over the way they… feel about menstruation” (Johnston & Chrisler, 2013, p. 12). People value the thoughts of others, so much that they forget to be who they are and have created a facade to hide behind. Women often feel obligated to hide their menstruation. It is taboo for women to be open about their bodies. If they were to openly forecast it, their actions and choices would be questioned by others. However, people should be open and judgement free about the topic. People should not quickly point out that a women is “PMSing” because of an unexpected reaction. The phrase “you’re PMSing” …show more content…
Ida Emilie Brantelid, Helena Nilver, and Siw Alehagen, professors of Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at the Linkoping University respectfully, reported that “this can be interpreted as a social norm indicating that menstruation is something that all women should have, but the social context prohibits them from letting anyone else become aware of it” (2014, p. 607). It is believed that society has created an unspoken, but clear message, that tells women that they should keep their “problem” hidden from everyone. It could be seen throughout advertisements for sanitary products; such as tampons and pads. “Ads for menstrual products have contributed to the communication taboo by emphasizing secrecy, avoidance of embarrassment, and freshness” (Johnston & Chrisler, 2013, p. 11). By degrading this inevitable biological process, people harm women’s self-esteem, and may cause them to feel the need to be extra careful when publically handling sanitary products. They exchange them with other females under tables so people will not know. It is not right that women have to hide such a natural processes that they have to live with for many years. “Over almost 40 years, menstruation is a part of female life” (Brantelid, Nilvér, & Alehagen, 2014, p. 601). It is time for people all around the world accept …show more content…
“They describe it as if it was uncontrollable and they are able to compare and identify a difference in how they act or react during this time and during the rest of the month” (Chekoudjian, 2009, p. 18). Many women claim that they notice a difference in their attitudes when they are PMSing. However, this could be due to the fact that all throughout a woman’s life she is told she is going to behave differently during this time period. This could signify that society may be at its point where it now looks for “differences” in one’s attitude to point it out and claim that it has something to do with their time of month.On the contrary, they could have further analyze their previous choice and have decided that there was better answer. For example, a female could be taking charge in a group project and is making sure everything is in order, but when someone fails to do their duty and are reprimanded they quickly tell her to calm down and stop PMSing. This should not be tolerable in any occasion. It is not right for people to put blame when someone just wants something to be done correctly. “PMS, anger, and emotions are considered a problem not because of the discomfort and distress they cause women, but because of its disruptive effect on others, especially men” (Hunter & Robinson, 2007, p. 5). Not only are people pointing out that PMS is a great factor in the choices women make, but they are
“When a motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become the foundation of a new race." (Margaret Sanger, 1) Margaret Sanger, known as the founder of birth control, declared this powerful statement. It is reality that the rights that are customary for women in the twentieth century have been the product of the arduous physical and mental work of many courageous women. These individuals fought for the right for women to be respected in both mind and body by bestowing on them the rights to protect their femininity and to gain the equivalent respect given to men. A remarkable woman named Margaret Sanger is the individual who incredibly contributed to the feministic revolution that took place in the 1920’s. Her legacy of making the right to use birth control legal for woman is a precedent in history for the foundation of the equal rights battle that is still being fought today. By giving control back to the women in their sexuality, Margaret Sanger also restored confidence in those women who felt that their lives revolved around pregnancy. She has become an influential icon to women all around the world who enjoy the security of birth control that gives them the freedom in their sexuality on a daily bases.
The research literature has been somewhat inconsistent regarding PMS. The prevalence of PMS fluctuates dramatically depending on the report methods. Retrospective studies have found rates as high as 97%, while prospective studies have found rates as low as 3% (Sveinsdottir, Lundman, & Norberg, 2002). However, different methodologies and different populations could account for a large amount of this variation thus suggesting that PMS is not a purely biological phenomenon. Over the last decade, there has continued to be a large emphasis on PMS within the western culture. It has been theorized that PMS is a cultural-bound syndrome, in which women of western societies label any changes that occur during the late luteal phase as abnormal (...
In regards to the impurity of menstruation is an area in which a change from biblical to rabbinic law happens (Wasserfall pg. 60). Holiness Code in Leviticus twice states the absolute prohibition of sexual intercourse of a married couple while the wife has her menstrual period (Wasserfall pg.60). This innovation is the invention of the rabbi as an expert on menstrual blood, as the authority to be consulted by women thus displacing women as authorities over their own bodies (Wasserfall pg. 61).
Menstruation is the monthly passing of blood, tissue, fluid, and mucus. It is also known as a period. Your body is shedding the lining of the uterus. The flow of blood usually occurs during 3–7 consecutive days each month. Hormones control the menstrual cycle. Hormones are a chemical substance produced by endocrine glands in the body to regulate different bodily functions.
Women throughout time have been compelled to cope with the remonstrances of motherhood along with society’s anticipations
Oakley, Ann. “Beyond The Yellow Wallpaper.” Reproductive Health Matters 5.10 (1997): 29-39. JSTOR. Web. 7 April 2011.
All people born with and retain a uterus are burdened with the menstrual cycle. It comes every month between the approximate ages of 11 and 55 and stays for approximately 5 days. For the sake of this paper I will mostly use the term women to refer to those who get their periods. Although, I want to strongly emphasize the point that Trans men who retain a uterus and do not take hormones may also have this problem. This monthly occurrence causes women to spend approximately $1773.00 a year on tampons (Huffington). That is an excessive amount of money given that women are forced to have a uterus. This excess cost of having a uterus is one small part of the concept of the pink tax. The pink tax is the additional costs people who buy items targeted towards women have to pay if they want such products. Pads and tampons are the biggest culprit in terms of the pink tax because it is the one thing men don’t have to buy. It’s not women’s fault that the uterus has a tantrum every 28 days and decides it is necessary to shed its layers
Feeling irritable, low, or anxious during the premenstrual phase of ones cycle,a condition that revolves itself during menses or shortly thereafter. A sever case of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is all Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. PMS and PMDD have similar or the same symptoms. Not severe enough to interfere with work, social activities, and social activities. PMDD occurs in two to ten percent of menstruating women. Some of the symptoms of PMDD are mood swings, tensions, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue. Some physical problems may occur like bloating breast, headaches, and or muscle pains. There are many type of of medications that you can use in order to tarnish symptoms or subside your
The society today is not one that lends itself to the topic of a woman’s menstruation; quite frankly it is revered as taboo. A woman’s Menstruation (her period) is seen by males as an obstacle and is considered very dirty sexually. The menstrual cycle as perceived...
Nelson (2014) defines menstruation as the shedding of tissue and blood from the lining of uterus through a woman’s vagina. The author also states that menstruation acts as an important sign of puberty among females whereby they normally start having menstrual periods between the ages of 11 to 14 years old, around three to five days per cycle. Marshall (2014) studies that when periods come regularly, it is called the menstrual cycle which also implies the changes that occur in a woman’s body to prepare for fertilization and pregnancy. The cycle usually starts on the first day of the menstrual period and ends the day before the next period starts (Nelson, 2014). Ganong (2003) says the average cycle is 28 days but the length of the cycle is variable
The menstrual cycle occurs in the uterus and the ovary as a part of making sexual reproduction possible. The menstrual cycle is a monthly occurrence and happens so the ovary can produce eggs and the uterus can get ready for an egg becoming fertilized. (Wikipedia) The menstrual cycle is a complex cycle and is controlled by hormones produced by many different glands. The hypothalamus causes the pituitary gland to produces chemicals which then cause the ovaries to produce the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Each gland and structure is affected by the activity of another which is a biofeedback . The menstrual cycle has been assumed to last around 28 days and happens in four stages, the menstrual phase (day 1-5), follicular phase (day 1-13), ovulation phase (day 14) and the luteal phase (day 15-28). The day count for the menstrual cycle starts on the first day that the blood comes out of the vagina. (Women’s Health)
Imagine if it were you: missing school or work since you cannot afford the products you need. Imagine if it were you: forced to leave your home as it is "that time of the month". Imagine if it were you: shunned by family and friends; made to feel like less of a person simply because of a natural bodily function. This is life for millions of women around the world and it needs to change. Women are historically encouraged to hide their periods. Even today, in "modern" society, menstruation is still highly stigmatized. This stigmatization leads to serious problems with health, social situations, personal development, society, and even endangers women's lives.
As foolish as it may sound, periods are not socially accepted, and they are often associated with shame and embarrassment. As women we’ve come a long way, from fighting for voting rights to access to education, and the last thing one would want to encounter in the twentieth century is menstrual scrutiny. Period shaming is a real issue, regardless of what critics may say. Once a girl gets her period for the first time, the first thing she is told by her mother is to be discrete, and to be careful not to let boys see her sanitary products. We grow up with the idea that periods are not be discuss, and we often go to extreme ends trying to hide our sanitary products from the rest of the
Feminine hygiene is important to all women around the world, especially during their menstrual cycles. Maintaining feminine hygiene helps protect and prevent bacterial infections that could possibly lead to sterility, disease, cancer, and other health issues. However, in today’s society it has become difficult for some women and families to obtain these necessary products, specifically for girls in school. As a woman, I understand first hand how much a necessity pads and tampons are during a menstrual cycle. It is upsetting that even in 2017, women and girls are still not able to afford and obtain the hygiene products they need for their health, and in turn missing school because of it. All schools across the United States should have tampons and pads available to their female students for free.
The use of contraception was never as widely proclaimed and exhibited as it is now. The use of contraception has become so mainstream, that it is now “normal” for even teens to use these contraceptives. Schools promote the use of this once taboo practice of artificial birth control, and partake in the distribution of condoms amongst students. This is a clear example of how modern society and its practices can change the way people act morally and physically.