Why it’s Time to Normalize the Period
Eww, that’s gross! Shh! Don’t let anybody see. She’s acting crazy, must be her time of the month…. sound familiar? If like us, you’re tired of putting up with this every month, now is the time for us to make a change.
“I believe feminine disempowerment begins at the time of the first period.” - Christy Guyer, Founder of Normalize the Period
The whole idea for Normalize the Period came from asking women of all ages one question - what was your first period experience like? We were overwhelmed with the response. Almost every woman’s story shared the same experience - that of feeling alone, embarrassed and unprepared (emotionally and physically) for this life-changing experience. In fact, not a single woman we asked considered her experience to be a positive one.
A young woman’s first period is quite literally her rite of passage into womanhood. If most girls feel embarrassed, ashamed and alone in that moment, surely it’s only a matter of time before they consciously or unconsciously associate those same feelings with the characteristics of being a woman?
It made us think, do we want to continue this way?
The current approach to period education is detached, sterile and out of touch, and does nothing to connect young women to themselves and prepare for the different challenges of womanhood. We do agree that it is important to understand our bodies and how they work. However using a text book with diagrams in a classroom environment really doesn’t prepare a young girl for the experience. If anything the textbook information may make more sense to a young girl after she has already experienced her first period, instead of before.
What is lacking in the current period education process is emotionally preparing young women for this experience. Our culture does not promote open conversations about periods, which is weird when you consider the large number of people experiencing them regularly. That’s why we need to Normalize the Period, to remove the taboo and invite curiosity. For example if a mother/caregiver was not raised in an environment where talking about periods was encouraged, that mother/caregiver may not realize she is doing her daughter a disservice by perpetuating the silence. The cycle has to end now. It only takes one generation to remove the shame and embarrassment women feel about their bodies, we can enact this now, by changing the way we communicate with young girls today.
Are you with us?
What does this change look like?
-First up, Communication. The main reason every woman has the same first period experience of loneliness and embarrassment, is because nobody has taken the time to actually tell them what it was like to have their period. Be real. Women having periods is as normal as any other bodily function. Share your first period story with a young woman in your life, explain that she might get cramps, show her your pads/tampons, get her comfortable with the reality of periods so when it does arrive she can feel empowered, as opposed to ashamed.
-Secondly, we have to celebrate young women. As mentioned above, a girls first period is literally a rite of passage into womanhood. Paired with the communication of what the period is like, celebration gives a whole new level of ownership to the experience. We’re talking period parties! Each young woman should be celebrated in a way that suits her. The celebration can be a big party with her friends, or it can be as intimate as giving her a special necklace to wear each month. But either way, this is a special time in her life and her experience should reflect that.
-Thirdly re-messaging the period. As mentioned above, women having periods is as natural as any other bodily function. It is completely normal. Stop talking about it as if it was anything else and encourage your family members to do the same. There are so many wonders to being a woman. The period is only one aspect.
-Lastly, it’s time to give young women the tools to respect and cherish every part of themselves & their cycles. The best tool a young woman can receive is a supportive person in her life. Someone to take the time to be real with her. Celebrate her. Teach her to celebrate herself. Build anticipation into the wonders of womanhood. Introduce her to menstrual tracking. Learning more about the 4 cycles of menstruation can communicate so much to a woman about her health. And getting into the habit early on is certainly a benefit. Give them permission to listen to their bodies, especially during their period. Re-assure her that slowing down and being comfortable is what her body is asking for. Be sure she knows to have everything she needs to curl up and be comfortable - a soft blanket, stretchy bottoms and a big comfortable sweatshirt.
Want to get involved? Shop Normalize the Period products and buy something special for yourself or a loved one as a reminder to connect and communicate. Plus $1 from every product you buy funds our Path to Womanhood education program, teaching young girls to understand, respect and honor every part of themselves as they journey into womanhood.
Author- Christy Guyer team member of Normalize the Period.