Google dictionary defines misogyny as “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women”. Misogyny – a form of gendered-hatred that persists even today has many causes and a lot more effects, but let us focus on one of the most evident causes of misogyny, which reduces menstruators from human beings to well, just menstruators.
Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a highly common condition that affects menstruators before their menses – it generally affects the menstruator’s emotional, physical, and behavioral health.
This particular phenomenon (the cause of which is still unknown) has contributed largely to the hatred self-proclaimed ‘modern men’ have towards the very idea of menstruation.
“Why so angry? Are you PMSing?”
Most menstruators have been asked this question at least once in their lifetime by some or the other person. Whenever they were easily-irritated, immensely angry, or simply not in the mood to talk, the causal factor of their emotions was ‘assumed’ to be PMS.
This simple assumption which seemingly is not that big-a-deal for many of us, in fact, is an evident contributor to gender insensitivity.
Personal Spaces
“Man, my girlfriend just started her periods. She is going to PMS all the time and who will bear her tantrums? ME!”
You might have heard your male friend saying something similar to this, complaining about how his girlfriend becomes a Godzilla when she is PMSing.
Menstruators who are outspoken and critical are often shut-down by men saying that they are ‘PMSing’.
But again, he is just a man, that’s all he can do (See: ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell!’ by Lana Del Ray); instead of trying to talk to his partner and figure out the actual reason, he’d rather blame everything on her hormones and stay miserable.
Professional Spaces
But again, who are we to talk about anyone’s personal life?
The problem worsens in most professional spaces where menstruators, commonly women (because societal structures won’t let people employ individuals of other genders), are often shut down by such statements.
“There is no need to be so angry! Stop PMSing”
Women, when being vocal or argumentative about their opinions are often shut down by a similar statement in professional spaces. Without giving any leverage to their merits and experience, they are often asked to compose themselves and stop being affected by PMS.
Even if the menstruating individual is putting forth a very-well thought out argument in the discourse, even if such individuals are correct in their stance on the situation, there remains a high chance that they will be asked to compose themselves and stop PMSing.
Such statements are essentially manifestations of aggression and violence towards menstruating individuals which often contribute to creating discriminatory structures in professional spaces, often keeping them away from promotions and rewards based on merit.
The moment we do this to an individual, we automatically reduce them to nothing but a bleeding uterus.
Conclusion
The very idea of ‘eradicating gender sensitivity’ is to become more sensitive and empathetic of personal experiences. By using PMS as a way to shut menstruators down, societal structures are giving a clear indication that they do not intend on treating menstruators in a similar manner in which they treat non-menstruators.
This does not only contribute to misogyny among men but often has a negative effect on the self-confidence and morale of menstruating individuals.
In these times when discourses regarding mental health are becoming common, we must acknowledge existing biological, social, and emotional differences – it is pertinent that we start talking to menstruating individuals about their experiences instead of labeling them on something we don’t even understand.
So the next time you see a menstruator having troubled emotions, take some time to talk it out with them and understand their experiences instead of blaming everything on their hormones.
“There is no greater intelligence than kindness and empathy”
-Bryant H. McGill