If Men Could Menstruate free essay sample

I remember I was fourteen when I got mine. I knew what a period was, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be a young adult yet. I asked my mom why I had bled a little, and she replied with joy â€Å"Ya eres toda una senorita,† which means I had just become a young women. I knew then I wasn’t a child anymore. In my case, I didn’t have a ceremony celebrating my new cycle of life. For example, in the Hindu culture of India, a girl’s first menstrual period is often celebrated by bringing her presents and giving her celebrations. In the Hispanic culture, we (girls) get celebrated by having a Quinceanera, but it’s not celebrating our first period, but the point when we reach fifteen years old and we are therefore considered young women—it’s basically the same concept. In some cultures—such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Orthodox, and Bali—women are banned from their homes and temples for three to four days, or up to a week depending on how long her period lasts. We will write a custom essay sample on If Men Could Menstruate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They are also banned from having sexual intercourse with their mate during this time, or to even touch or pass them something on the table! The men in these cultures and/or religions make woman feel dirty and unclean because of their bleeding. In Indonesia it is believed that all sexually transmitted diseases emerged from women that broke the norm of not having intercourse with their husband; therefore, the only way men can cure themselves is to pass it on to women because â€Å"woman’s body can absorb infection and purge it during a cycle† (Hoskins, 2002). Now think about this, but the other way around. Put men in our shoes. Of course, a menstrual cycle isn’t the end of the world, but I don’t think that men would or could endure it. First of all, men have oppressed women for centuries. Having a cycle and making them sensitive like us wouldn’t help them keep the â€Å"power† they think they have over us and the whole wide world. Second, there’s PMS—premenstrual syndrome, or cramping. The excruciating pain we get pre, during, and post menstrual cycle is abhorrent. There is pain on the lower back, the stomach, on our breast†¦ everywhere! Going back to point one—we usually get extra sensitive and cry for no apparent reasons. Some women tend to get cranky and aggressive. Mood swings get crazy! And third and final point, having a menstrual cycle means being able to reproduce. There is a reason why God created women—He gave us all a task and women are made for the job of carrying an angel’s life in her womb. If men can’t even take care of children for an hour or two, neither can they take care of them for nine months and for the rest of their lives. Men do not have to guts to deal with childbirth either. Being a woman is difficult, but it is a blessing. Because we women are caring, loving, and sensitive human beings. http://www. haverford. edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/steinem. menstruate. html http://www. sciforums. com/If-Men-could-Menstruate-t-65408. html http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Menstrual_cycle http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Culture_and_menstruation