Imagine not having the option to choose the type of menstrual product you use during your period. Imagine your parents don’t educate you on menstruation before your first period or buy you tampons from the store every month. Many young menstruators around the world experience this every day, especially those who come from backgrounds that continue to view periods as a taboo.
The meaning of “menstruation” has been viewed negatively throughout our history, especially since we have almost always been within male-dominated societies. Female individuals didn’t have the opportunity to decide what their periods meant and how to talk about them since they were frowned upon by men. There was a fear of blood and disgust towards the women who bled. To this day, there is a taboo surrounding menstruation. I know friends who never had the “period talk” with their parents and others whose parents believe tampons are related to virginity or are completely unhygienic. I’ve had friends who wore pads during high school sports games because their parents didn’t give them the option to choose tampons or other insertable, more comfortable menstrual products.
