Why is there a Phobia around Periods?

Adriana Martinez, Staff Writer

For many years many women have been forced to hide away the fact they are on their periods. Why is it that this normal healthy bodily function has been forced to be hidden in public? Women having their period is a normal part of their body, yet when we go to the restroom we feel the need to hide our pad or tampon. Growing up young girls are taught to hide their periods and to place their period products in secret places. These lessons are what demonize the nature of a period and hinder another piece of a women’s lifestyle today.

Senior Harmony Johnson shares her experience being judged for being on her period, “I had told my dad I started my period again and he said ‘It was gross’ and I began to get into more detail to make him even more uncomfortable. At first I was really offended and ashamed because he has four daughters that he should feel the need to be comfortable around, but after it was funny when I had made him uncomfortable.”

Senior Gisselle Guerrero shares how she’s been indirectly judged for having her period, “When I had asked my dad to go to the store with me to get pads, he would just drop me off and wouldn’t get off with because he was uncomfortable.

“He would feel really emabrassed and wouldn’t look at me which made me feel like it was my fault for asking him to take me to get pads.”