I have a question. What is it about a woman having a period that is so scary to some people?
When you see adverts about menstruation products, you invariably see women all in white, doing sports, bungee jumping, basically anything active that does not actually reflect how women feel when they are on a period, or what they want to do.
If you want to sell a menstruation product to women, why not for once, work to your audience. I know that I, for one, do not want to run, jump or bungee jump when I am on my period, I want a hot water bottle, food and more than anything, no one to irritate me more than I am currently feeling.
Like my insides are being ripped out and my head has turned to mush. Like I feel anger, sadness, pain, sleepy and so so irritated! Show me an advert that reflects a woman having a true period, with a product that is going to help me and I will buy it in droves.
Do not mess with me! I am hormonal.
Sell me a product that is actually made specifically to assist women when they are having a period. Knixteen for example sell underwear for teens that works as a perfect backup when you are having a period and want to protect your underwear (and your clothes!) from leaks. How many times as a teenager have you been terrified when on your period that something is going to show through?
Because we have been taught that showing that having a period is taboo.
I was in a line at Boots the other day with my sanitary products and an older lady actually looked at me in shock and said "Hide that away dear!". Why? Periods happen. It is a normal bodily function that we should not have to hide.
I cannot count the amount of times that I, and most the women I know, have experienced a sharp cramp, been asked if we are ok and every single time we answer "No it's fine, I'm fine". Why do we deny the pain?
Studies have shown recently that period pain can be as painful sometimes as a heart attack and yet we are taught to demur, diminish and outright deny. We are taught that it is something to hide, to protect people away from.
It is 2018 people. Sell us the products that work for a woman actually having a period. Normalise it. Don't make it a taboo. We are women, we bleed sometimes. Get over it.
