Have a Happy Period!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So let's just quite the patronizing and move the hell on.

No need to be quite so polite, Jobob.

[Crankin]

I suffered horribly with PMS and my period. I was glad when it stopped. Menopause was nothing compared to what i went through from age 11 to 48.
However, I don't think I would have written that letter, at least in that tone, with those words. While I don't like the patronizing attitude that stupid saying implies, it's not going to ruin my life.
I wasn't a homicidal maniac, just in physical pain. I took a Tylenol and tried to carry on.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But I do know women that go through hell every month and I certainly don't presume to speak for them.

But that's just it!- they presume to speak for us! The women you hear from most are the ones who talk about 'women' (and they usually do refer to women as a group, not just referring to themselves) becoming homicidal maniacs, etc. during their periods. They make it sound like all women are like this, that's my only beef. They pretend to speak for all of us when they talk like in that letter:

As Brand Manager in the Feminine Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women....
...Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period?...FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

Yes, it's funny in a superficial sort of way, but it also perpetuates a way of thinking that paints women as hysterically driven by their hormones, not unlike the pervasive Victorian notion of women's 'fits of hysteria' or 'having the vapors'- an attitude we look down on today...a way of saying women were not in control of their behavior because of some sort of biological weakness, and therefore were not to be taken seriously. I realize this may over-analyzing the issue a bit but please forgive me- I like to think in depth about the underlying meanings of all kinds of things. I have been enjoying hearing other women's opinions about this. I know there is no all right or wrong, but rather shades of grey in all things, depending on one's own perspective. And we all do have different perspectives, and yes we can only speak for ourselves, not for all women. I am speaking only for myself.

One of my daughters has to literally spend the day in bed once a month, in terrible pain, faint, weak, and nauseous. I feel so bad for her! Happily, this is not typical of most women.

I personally feel it's not so hilarious anymore to overdo the homicidal maniac school of menstrual humor about women, regardless of whether the comedian is a man or a woman. It's become a cliche about women and is not very accurate. They can speak for themselves, I'm all for that, but I just don't enjoy being lumped in with it. Let them talk about their own horrific periods, but not describe it in terms of women in general.
That's all i'm saying. (are we 'allowed' to post anymore?)
This is still on topic for the "Happy Period" theme. It's always interested me in fact, and I'm glad to be able to express my longtime feelings about it. I have no great malice about it.

P.s. In fact, I just had a happy one, and actually smiled and laughed during it!

[shootingstar]

But that's just it!- they presume to speak for us! The women you hear from most are the ones who talk about 'women' (and they usually do refer to women as a group, not just referring to themselves) becoming homicidal maniacs, etc. during their periods. They make it sound like all women are like this, that's my only beef. When they say things like "Have YOU ever had a period?" to men it sounds like it includes all of us.

One of my daughters has to literally spend the day in bed once a month, in terrible pain. I feel so bad for her! Yet this is not typical.
I personally feel it's not so hilarious anymore to overdo the homicidal maniac school of menstrual humor about women, no whether the comedian is a man or a woman. It's become a cliche about women and is not very accurate. They can speak for themselves, but I just don't enjoy being lumped in with it. Let them talk about their own horrific periods, not mine as well.
That's all i'm saying. (are we 'allowed' to post anymore?)
I feel this is still on topic for the "Happy Period" theme. It's always interested me in fact, and I'm glad to be able to express my longtime feelings about it. I have no great malice about it.

P.s. In fact, I just had a happy one!

I'm trying to get out of calm period..it's just hanging around too long this time. It annoys no one but...myself and my partner. And that's all in this world who needs to know my happy period status on a regular basis.

It is annoying the presumption by some people, especially some men who think that periods always that disrupt women in a major way each month. All is takes is a few women who want to do expresss (frequently) to others who wish to hear..men or women..that they are not feeling well, their hot flashes. I used to hear it all the time from our receptionist at a former workplace with her hot flashes. Everyone knew about them every month.

I have a close, long-time friend who had disabling periods that put her in bed once a month. Once, she nearly fainted as we walked along on a hot summer day. She refused to see a doctor (she was conservative Mennonite) until..it got to a point she had surgery. Long story, some unpleasant details which I will skip. I sympathize the small group of women like her. I did everything to convince her that she had to see a doctor.

Until I started to hear about some menstruation and menopause jokes later in life, I thought menstruation was the most normal and calm thing every month. Why should I not think this way? I have 4 other sisters and mother who never went beserk, never in pain and probably rarely crawled into bed for relief. So I got indoctrinated right at home.... Dear father and brother who saw enough boxes of sanitary napkins stocked up in the closets. But no big deal. This probably all stemmed from my mother's attitude how she raised her daughters... menstruation is not a big deal, just to be dealt with. And her attitude probably came from being with 5 other sisters..we have heavily female-dominant families.

I agree with you Bleekerstgirl.

[Aint Doody]

C'mon, y'all. It's just supposed to be funny. Don't take it so seriously. It's not a comment on womanhood for cryin' out loud!

And the Pokemon cards! All my mascara is now on my sleeve.

[SadieKate]

C'mon, y'all. It's just supposed to be funny. Don't take it so seriously. It's not a comment on womanhood for cryin' out loud!

And the Pokemon cards! All my mascara is now on my sleeve.

What are you doing wearing mascara on a weekend?