Half the population experiences it, so why is menstruation still such a taboo? At GladRags, we are committed to changing this attitude about our bodies, one reusable cloth pad and menstrual cup at a time.sticker

The feminist movement has been influential in changing ideas about women and bodies. It's time that ideas and conversations about our periods change as well. Chris Bobel, author of New Blood: Third Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation argues that “we socialize girls to expect to hate their periods, even before they have them.” In order to build a generation that doesn't feel embarrassed by their own bodies, we need to change how we talk about our periods.

So how do we emphasize period positivity? How do we break from the social norms and not be embarrassed by our periods? And dare I ask, how do we become proud of our periods?

Our attitudes shape our actions. When we think our period is embarrassing, we try to get rid of all evidence of it, meaning we either flush it down the toilet or throw it away, not considering what impact that may have on the environment. According to the book Flow: The Cultural History of Menstruation, the average woman can expect to throw away 300 pounds of used tampons and pads. Those tampons that are flushed away? You may never see them again, but they clog sewage systems and hurt aquatic ecosystems. And those disposable pads? Even if they are incinerated at a garbage dump, it releases toxic chemicals into the air that contribute to pollution.

How do we dispose of these old ideas about menstruation? We all know our period isn’t a blue liquid poured ever so gently onto the disposable pad, but that doesn’t mean it’s something to be embarrassed about either. If we can get over our embarrassment, we can change the social norms and discourses about our periods, and that will hopefully have an impact on the environment as well.

GladRags is a company that cares about more than making a profit. When we became a certified Benefit corporation earlier this year, we proved to ourselves and our customers that we are in the business of making a positive impact in the world.

We are committed to being a part of this change. After all, GladRags was founded with an idea for an alternative to the social norm in mind. We encourage you, our wonderful customers, to join us. Talk about your period. Tell your friends and family that you made the choice to help the environment. Don't be afraid to share your stories. Join us in making decisions that have a positive impact on our bodies, minds, and environment.

Not sure how to start a positive dialogue about menstruation? Check out our tools to help you spread the word about healthy periods!

bronteAbout the author of this post:
is the summer intern at GladRags and attends Willamette University, studying politics, history, and women’s and gender studies. She is passionate about education, dance, and hiking with her dog.