Anastasia Muncie
Staff Writer
A scandalous topic, something you never would want to speak of in front of your parents. The paraphernalia you hide stealthily in your bag or purse, a solemn “Scarlett Letter” bore by all members of the “Uterus Club”, the dreaded “p” word: period.
For some unimaginable reason, the female anatomy is something mindboggling to most, despite the fact that women, men and everything in between have always been and always will be. So why is it that when the topic of menstruation is brought to our attention, it involves blushed faces and eyes diverted downwards- even from women themselves?
What prompts me to talk about such a ludicrous and completely inappropriate topic as a woman’s monthly visit from Mother Nature? Surprisingly, this isn’t an attack on any political candidate notorious for their open views on women and blatant misogyny, but something more domestic. Something so close to home that it shocked me when I saw it.
YikYak: where the worst opinions are hidden in a sea of SpongeBob SquarePants references.
Here, I saw a “Yak,” as they are called, along the lines of “Wouldn’t it be great if health services provided [sanitary napkins] or [other feminine hygiene products] for ‘just in case’ moments?” I couldn’t help but agree with the statement and I gave the post my approval by “voting up” it. However, what I realized immediately is that this (presumably) woman’s opinion was not valued by other members of the Millersville University community.
Some comments attacked the original poster by calling them a “radical feminist,” that the products are “not necessary” and that if “health services is going to supply feminine products for free, then they should also provide male hygiene products for free as well.” What is a male hygiene product? I can’t say I know, but the commenter continued to say that male hygiene products are razors, because evidently only men use those.
What these commenters failed to realize is that women usually place “feminine hygiene products” under the same category as a bandage; something biologically necessary under certain circumstances.
Women did not wake up one morning as we were reaching the cusp of pubescence and say “Golly gee, now seems like a great time to start shedding the lining of one of my internal organs!” Feminine hygiene products are not some kind of secret luxury that is awarded to women because they just love the sensation, but because it’s a necessary evil.
Requesting feminine products be made available on campus is not like asking health services to provide free breast cancer exams and refusing men the option of getting their prostate examined. I’m sure this poster wouldn’t have even said anything about the lack of products at health services if there was even an option to purchase them in the ladies room. Your only option if you have a sudden visit from “TOM” and can’t find a single other female with anything they can give you to help (which is the unwritten code of all women- in these situations, you have to help a sister out), is to purchase an entire box of overpriced panty-liners at the university store.
So next time you think feminine hygiene products are some secret way women are trying to rob you of your hard-earned money, remember that your mom used them, and she must be some sort of saint to deal with your ignorance.
