Teach Boys About Periods

by SONIA WEGLINSKI

In middle school and early high school, I always felt “weird” bringing up my period. Even to my girlfriends, it seemed like this unspoken thing that we were just expected to hide away from the rest of the world. I remember a guy back in high school having the most revolted look on his face after finding pads in my backpack. At the time, I was oddly embarrassed; almost like I was ashamed. However, the more I thought about this incident, among many others, the more infuriated I got. Why was there such a stigma? Why couldn’t I speak openly about my period? Why did I have to cater to men’s comfort? I couldn’t wrap my mind around how something biological was so stigmatized. To make it worse, I lived in a conservative state where this was seen as normal behavior. 

Utah already has poor sex-education, and not being open about menstruation just reinforces that. From a young age I was taught to be embarrassed about my period; but, most importantly, to never, ever mention it to a boy. However, if boys were equally educated about menstruation cycles, what pads and tampons are, the different PMS symptoms and just how painful they can be, like girls do, then maybe they wouldn’t be so horrified over periods. Maybe, then, boys would be respectful and sympathetic during a woman's “time of the month”; they wouldn’t say insensitive comments like “someone’s PMSing” when we’re emotional or foolishly argue that being kicked in the balls is more painful than cramps. 

Now, don't get me wrong — I hate my period like every other woman; I hate the acne, the cravings, the mood swings, the headaches, and worst of all, the cramps, but it’s still a fundamental part of me that I refuse to be made ashamed about it. In fact, I feel empowered as a woman because of it. There shouldn’t be a taboo on something that naturally occurs in half the population, and society at large, but especially men, need comprehensive education on menstruation. Women shouldn’t ever feel embarrassed about their body; it’s time for period positivity.