Around half of the student body at Berkeley High School experiences a week of pain and bleeding nearly once a month. Their lives go on as normal, no sick days rewarded, no time off, and very little acknowledgement of this phenomenon. As women on their periods go about their days, they experience pain from headaches, cramps, lower back pain, or indigestion. However, because it doesn’t directly affect males, the actions they take to educate themselves on the menstrual cycle are extremely limited. The phenomenon that impacts women so intensely often goes unacknowledged. Yet these people, who will never get their periods, make up 74 percent of U.S. senators, 87 percent of billionaires, hold 65 percent of management positions and over 90 percent of CEO positions globally.
When it’s that time of the month for a woman, so many small things that they don’t normally notice will change. Planning outfits, managing cravings, and making sure you have enough supplies are just a few things women have to stay on top of. In the last decade, scientists have researched deeper into the magnitude of period cramp pain, and many of the studies conducted show shocking results. For some women, the levels of pain from cramps were comparable to that of a heart attack. Often, this can seem overwhelming and lead to women taking time off of work or school to rest and recuperate. When they do recognize that they can’t bear working through the pain and make the decision to take time off, it often leads to being perceived as flaky, lazy, or untrustworthy.
While as teens and young adults, men are exposed to puberty and sex education, beyond that, males may never engage with the topic again. Due to this, it’s very common for men to perceive the menstrual cycle differently than reality. This ignorance is common in many women’s health issues. In the 21st century, more studies have been published on women’s health than ever, but they are still severely underrepresented. Today, only around 10 percent of studies conducted are on women’s health, while 75 percent are focused on men. This lack of research relates to men’s lack of knowledge, because these important issues get much less publicity.
As we continue to advance our technology and gain publicity on the issue, the hope is that awareness will grow as well. If it’s taking a moment to consider what menstruating feels like or grabbing some chocolate at the store for your partner, thoughtfulness will be appreciated. Menstruation is what leads to the birth of all of us. When men act as though it doesn’t affect them, it feels as though they’re ignoring one of the fundamentals of life.