For decades, humans have looked at periods as an unpleasant and shameful period of time that should be hidden from others. From mothers requesting their daughters periods be hidden from male family members, to men giving women disgusting looks when they mention periods; it all stands as another form of oppression against women. The false stigma that periods are “gross” and “shameful” needs to be put to an end. The reproductive cycle gives a woman one of the most powerful things on this Earth, the ability to reproduce. Without the cycle of periods, no one, for any matter, would be here right now reading. Not only do periods give a woman the ability to reproduce, but also a sign of balanced health. If a woman is regularly going through a  period cycle, this means her body is in good health. How could society as a whole deem someone’s well-balanced health as disgusting and pitiful? 

Even though many people do not see it as something “disgusting”, many fear conversations surrounding the topic or get quiet and try to change the subject when it is brought up. Many people, specifically men, deem it as an “inappropriate” thing to talk about. In earlier decades,women were ashamed to speak of their periods because as a patriarchy, men made the decision that periods are inappropriate. It is unbelievable that nowadays it is so popular for men to have the final say in things that pertain to women only. In the stigma around periods specifically, it should not be man’s say whether women can talk about their periods or not.  Women should be able to openly conversate about periods as they please. After all it is only their right, as freedom of speech exists in this country. After talking to many women, they admit that they get dirty looks from men when talking about their period, and or, men ask them if it’s “that time of the month,” when they believe women are acting irrationally. 

This is just one of the many failures as a society. Allowing men to talk about whatever they please but it is socially unacceptable for women to talk about  normal bodily functions. This does not only stand as one of the great failures of our society, but as yet another form of oppression against women.