Women Are Live Tweeting Their Periods To Shut Down Period-Shame
Women are live tweeting their periods in a bid to shut down period shaming [Photo: Rex Features]
We are in 2016 right? We only ask as it seems somewhat befuddling that despite half the world’s population experiencing periods at some point in their lives, we’re *still* not comfortable talking about them.
But people are pushing back against the period shame by taking to social media to live-tweet what happens during their periods in all it’s graphic glory. Using the hashtag #TweetYourPeriod women hope the movement might help break down stigmas and get the period conversation started.
Though the hashtag has been floating around cyber space for a while, it really started gathering momentum after film-maker and writer, Risa Pappas wrote a post on her blog calling for more open discussion about the subject and encouraging women to tweet their periods.
From bloating to blood clots women are sharing all on social media [Photo: Rex Features]
“It has always bothered me that the period is so taboo when it’s not a proclivity, a defect, a perversion or even a problem,” she wrote. “It’s a normal, biological process. I’d like to live in the kind of world where we can speak openly and frankly about our periods, not be shamed for having them.”
Risa believes women still feel uncomfortable in talking about what’s perfectly normal, shamed into keeping quiet. And if recent research is anything to go on, she’s dead right. A global survey on menstruation by period tracking app Clue found that 17 percent of women skip important activities out of fear their periods will be “found out.” And while 86 percent of all respondents said they felt comfortable talking to other women about menstruation, only 34 percent said they would be open to discussing it with male friends or colleagues.
The #TweetYourPeriod hashtag is hoping to breakdown period stigmas [Photo: Rex Features]
Thankfully #TweetYourPeriod and a second hashtag, #RedSummer are making room for a healthy, open discussion about everything that happens to your body during aunt Flo’s visit, from bloating to blood clots, leakage to lying with a hot water bottle on your tummy, like all friggin day!
Not only is the movement normalising something that is, well, normal, it’s also providing a source of comfort to many women who feel shamed into keeping schtum about their periods. So next time your good ole aunty F pays you a visit shun the shame and shout about it instead.
What do you think of the #TweetYourPeriod movement? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
