The monthly gift is nothing to be ashamed of. Most of us get it, and it’s not exactly a secret to the male demographic… so why are we ashamed of it? We stow tampons up our sleeves or zip them in the deepest confines of our purses. We pass pads under the table (we still use them right?) and we speak of our period in hushed tones and euphemisms as if it were “the dark lord” himself: you-know-who. The “period” is the Voldemort (gasp) of the muggle world. Pathetic, yes. But can we help it? For more perspective on our menstrual embarrassments, I turned to the anonymous females of Carnegie Mellon.
When asked if she was embarrassed by her period, Holly J*, a freshman in Dietrich, stated, “I just don’t want guys to get weirded out. I don’t want anyone to have that image in mind.”
Understandable. It isn’t a pretty picture. But neither is childbirth. Nature is nature. We can’t help what goes on within our bodies, so, realistically, we shouldn’t be insecure of something beyond our control. It sounds like the heart of the embarrassment is men. How do they feel about it anyway?
For the macho perspective on the female’s bodily functions, I asked Luke*, a sophomore in Dietrich, whether or not he thought girls should be embarrassed about their periods.
“Nope. Not at all. I think everyone should have a good sense of humor about it,” he stated.
If men don’t care, why should we? Sure, it’s a pain in the butt, but it’s nothing to blush at. SOO… the next time a tampon tumbles out of your backpack, please. Keep your wits intact. No one is judging you. Obviously don’t be graphic and wave a red flag around during heavy-flow stage. Simply embrace your womanhood and enjoy this youthful “period” of your life (lol). Because frankly, no one cares. ☺
*Asterisks were used to protect the identity of interviewed individuals.