POLITICS LAB – One topic, three focal points: Leads, interviews, Europe articles, glosses and local texts from Cologne, Wuppertal and the Ruhr area
Here Subscribe to the newsletter, free of charge.
Composing: Robert Michalak
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Intro (Link to the long version)
My opinion on this topic
Most people will find it difficult to explain what menstruation is all about – possibly regardless of their gender. Something may have been left hanging from biology class, it is always talked about in partnerships and, above all, the period is a natural part of life for half of humanity for many decades. But if you are not currently working as a doctor, you have little reason to seriously and repeatedly deal with the biological aspects of the female period. Nevertheless, the way menstruation is dealt with has shaped societies throughout history – to the detriment of women. Is menstruation still a mystery and taboo, how do we deal with it and how does it affect those affected and society?
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Part 1: Poverty – No money for tampons
It is estimated that around half a billion girls and women do not have access to menstrual products. In Germany it is said to be financially difficult for almost a quarter of girls and women to provide themselves with sufficient pads and tampons. A good education is made more difficult for those who need it the most. In short: Affected people pay a high price for a biological necessity that they sometimes can hardly pay. When will period poverty end?
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Part 2: Stigma – courage to break taboos
The “mood swings” that periods can bring aren’t just material for comedy. The world of work also shows little understanding for the fact that the performance of women supposedly regularly collapses. A rethink may have begun, but there can still be no question of an understanding working world. Apparently society is so terrified of intimacy, the sight, taste and smell of blood that periods seem over-sublimated.
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Part 3: Health – education instead of painkillers
Lack of knowledge even among doctors: It can take more than ten years for a woman to find out that her extreme pain is not from her period but is a sign of endometriosis. Girls are not reliably prepared for the psychological challenges either. In order to “function” women resort to strong painkillers and other drugs that not only provide relief, but also attack their health and can also cause menstrual disorders. Is improvement foreseeable?
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Part 4: Shaping Europe – Scotland as a role model
While in Germany people are still applauding the fact that most period products are no longer subject to the luxury tax, Scotland is the first nation in the world to make these available free of charge: tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners are free here, as are reusable products such as menstrual cups or washable pads. With this offer, the country is aimed at all menstruating citizens, regardless of their individual income.
The Taste of Blood / The Fear of Menstruation
Part 5: Glosse – Shit, I’m bleeding!
„[…] Recently in the office, that’s when I got my period. So I went to the bathroom, going to get my menstrual cup out…” You could almost hear people rolling their eyes around us. Maybe they really made noises. Head shaking, contemptuous smacking. Maybe a choke or two? Is the history of menstruation full of misunderstandings? You would have to talk about that first. But if there were no taboos, there would be less fun.
Your trailer editors
