I will be talking to tween girls about their first period this Thursday, September 18th at the Cornell Library. This is a topic I’m really passionate about… why?
We talk a lot about bullying, about how things that other people say and do can make you feel bad about yourself. When our society calls menstruation “the curse” and teaches girls that it is shameful and dirty, we are setting up young girls to feel bad about themselves at a time when they are extremely vulnerable – it’s like self-bullying. Puberty brings on many physical changes (breasts growing, pimples, armpit hair) that make girls feel different and unsure about themselves. When it comes to their first period, we have two choices:
- Present the menstrual cycle as a negative, unwanted, dirty, shameful thing – and we are teaching girls that a natural function of their bodies is bad. This will eventually lead to self-worth, body image and sexuality issues.
- Present the menstrual cycle as positive, sacred, feminine, a gift (for future fertility) – and we are teaching girls that their bodies are special, that it can carry life some day. This will eventually lead to positive self-esteem, positive body image, and healthier views on sex and sexuality.
There is a quote that I love from LiYana Silver, from the website “I Heart My Moon Cycle”
LiYana was asked: If I could tell my daughter (or granddaughter or young women) one thing about her menses, it would be…
“Dear one, your body is hooked up to the brilliance and magic of the cosmos. The energy that makes the sun come up every day, that controls the tides, that makes the trees burst into bloom in the spring, that tells salmon, ‘swim upstream to get Home’ is the same energy that fuels your woman’s body. There is wisdom in your cells. Your ups and downs are not a mistake – they are supposed to be that way.”
A girl’s first period is a unique opportunity. Let’s teach girls to love and honour themselves.
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