Today, as I start my period, I want to talk about the menstrual cup. I started using mine almost a year ago now and love it. I didn't love it at first because it felt super uncomfortable but as time went on, it got to a point where I honestly forgot that I even had it in! Here is why I made the transition from pads and tampons to the menstrual cup.
I had used pads up until 9th grade and then strictly tampons from 10th grade-senior year of college. I had learned that it was so much more sustainable for the environment to switch to the menstrual cup and I also knew that there were hidden chemicals within tampons and pads. There has been the amazing creation of organic pads and tampons however, what I did learn during my time back in the U.S. was that in the United States (at least of 2017) a company only need 1 organic item in their product for it to be labeled organic. Oh, and did you know that companies that make tampons and pads are not legally required to disclose what is in their products? Oh, can't forget this one either, did you also know that there are a tax on women's menstrual products? What? Yep, it's true and it blows my mind at the low standards that government and society set to 'protect the environment and women.' I did use organic tampons for a while and I know that many women out there felt so much better on them but I did still feel as though I was contributing to the waste that the planet doesn't need. I had the funds, I went to some small organic store and bought my Lunette Cup which is what I still use today!
I love menstrual cups, I think they are a phenomenal invention and it protects not only the environment but the health and well-being of women too. However, while it may seem that I want to use this post to highlight things about the menstrual cup that I love, I actually want to talk about how gender inequality and how it impacts women that should have access to this product.
As you all know, I am passionate about learning about period poverty and learning how to abolish it. Yet, with this sustainability community currently, everyone is pushing for the menstrual cup which is yes, more sustainable and healthy for women, no doubt. But it takes quite a privilege to be able to use a menstrual cup. Think about it: you have to have access to clean water, you have to have anti-bacterial soap to wash your cup, and you have to live in a society where menstrual health is even talked about just a little bit. In the United States and in Australia, we have access to menstrual cups but women's periods are still seen as a negative element to being a women, that we can't control our emotions and our blood flow, that being a women all around sucks. There are also still cultures and religions within the U.S. that have discrimination against women that are menstruating and are sent away to menstruate on their own in another location because they are shamed by their families to be seen while bleeding. We are constantly hearing of stories of women in developing countries like Nepal, where women are are sent away to huts when they have their periods and dying. Literally dying because their society frowns upon them for being a woman.
In regards to sanitation, every country has poverty no matter what country it is, there is some type of poverty. Women who are impacted by poverty don't have access to being able to clean themselves, let alone on their periods. I remember my senior year of college, I was going to work at a rehabilitation house for minor girls who were trafficked in the city. It was the most beneficial learning experience that I've ever had, truly. There was a 14 year old girl there who had been trafficked off by her mother and had been living on the streets since she was young. That same day that I was shadowing in the house, her social worker called and told the housing manager that the government was defunding her program there and she would be moved to a foster house closer to her family (the same family that trafficked her off). We had 3 hours to clean her room and have her ready to leave, little did they know that she had been hoarding a range of items all in her room including used pads and tampons. Not clean, used. Back then it didn't make sense to me but now it does. This girl had been homeless and used basically her entire life. She never owned a dime and when she lived on the street I'm sure she saved everything she could because there is no telling when it would be gone. But now that she was in a safe house where she was provided with an unlimited amount of clothes, food, pads and tampons she was going to hold onto each one of them with dear life! On the streets, most women reuse whatever they used for their prior period such as socks, toilet paper, cardboard, etc. She was going to keep these items because her brain was telling her that any of that stuff cold be gone at any moment and to hold onto them as close as she could. Even though she had the cleaning necessities she couldn't wrap her mind around that that home was safe and no one in the house was going to limit her in those rights to eat, breathe, talk, laugh menstruate, etc.
This story was in the United States, now imagine countries that are 100% developing, in war, in a famine, or completely discriminate against women's rights to even go to school or choose when and who they will marry. Menstruation is the last thing on the society and the government's mind. We need to make a change. I want every women to be able to menstruate freely, confidently, and understand their bodies and choices. But I also want to women to be able to get an education, live in a safe home, live with the ability to clean themselves unashamedly, to walk freely home after 9pm after work without the fear of being assaulted, own property, earn the same wage as a man, grow up knowing that they are powerful. This list is a long list of things I want every single women in this world to have a right to. Menstruation is a huge one and unfortunately, the menstrual cup does not provide equality and pads and tampons (in terms of price and what is used in them) aren't equal either.
I want only organic tampons and pads on the markets and for every single distributor to list exactly what is used on that product with 100% honesty. I want every women to not have to worry about the cost of tampons and pads because they should have unlimited access to these products. I want women not to feel embarrassed if they accidentally bleed through their pants. I want every women to be able to take a break on their period if they need it because yes, our periods are exhausting, we are shedding an organ for goodness sake. Yes, and I want every women that wants to wear a menstrual cup to have the right to wear one and have the ability to keep themselves clean!
Our periods are 100% part of us and we will never be ashamed of this. One day, I want my daughter to to know what is happening with her body and to understand, it is all of hers. No one can do what they want with it only she holds that power. Every single women in this world deserves to hear that.
Your entire body and mind is yours and only you hold that power.
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The secret to switching to a menstrual cup is, if you have the ability and privilege to be using a menstrual cup you also have a voice to stand against menstruation inequality.
Xoxo,
Moonli
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