Is Menstruation Being Presented Badly in the Media? Let's Discuss.

*This is a collaborative post.


Unfortunately, women didn't sign up to have periods; they just came as part of the package. There were no T&Cs; it was just a mandatory clause in our contract. I started my period at age 14. In primary school, girls were given a talk about sanitary products. But nothing about the trials and tribulations a period would bring every month for every woman. Nobody talked to us about hormones or told us what was normal and/or abnormal. 

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


20 years ago, periods/menstruation cycles were deemed a taboo subject to discuss openly. Thanks to social media, I see many TikToks of women or even GPs discussing what is normal and abnormal when it comes to your menstrual cycle. Women make funny and relatable videos of what being on your period is like. This shows how less of a taboo subject menstruation is nowadays. 

However, one big question is this - is menstruation being presented badly in the media?


Representation really does matter when it comes to menstruation. Even today, I still see menstruation being portrayed negatively. Sometimes it is portrayed as something that doesn't need to be talked about. There seems to be a strong emphasis on shame and secrecy - like it needs to be hidden away because it's a burden for others to know about. I do think that sometimes the media portrays women as being emotionally unstable or irrational during their menstrual cycle. Obviously, hormones do have their part to play, but some forget that men have hormones too, not just women.

How are we still using euphemisms to describe a woman's menstrual cycle?

When people refer to a woman's period as their "time of the month" - that really grates on me. Why are we still living in a society that refers to a woman's menstrual cycle by that phrase? 

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


Sometimes advertising isn't representative

I think we've all seen the menstrual product adverts on TV, the ones where they use blue liquid rather than red to present how much the pad or period pants can hold. It kind of contributes to the idea that periods should be hidden. 

Now, not all media outlets portray menstruation badly.

TV programmes i.e. soap operas have played out storylines in the past about menstruation-related subjects e.g. menopause, endometriosis, PMDD etc. You find that soap operas and dramas really portray this side of things well. 

Magazine shows like This Morning does weekly phone-ins with a GP about your ailments. Also, they may do a special item about periods/menstruation to make some women feel less alone with their period predicaments. 

TV shows doing stuff like this disprove stereotypes, and allow others to learn and begin conversations.

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


When it comes down to it, representation is what truly matters.

Increasing visibility, showing diversity and showing fair representation in the media can normalise something that women experience for half of their lives. 
16 comments
  1. Increasing visibility and fair representation in the media is so important - Especially when such a large population is menstruating. I really didn't clock the blue liquid thing rather than red. You're absolutely right! Really weird now I think about it.
    Claire.X
    www.clairemac.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely Claire, fair representation is key in allowing others to learn what menstruation is and how it affects women. Yeah it's really strange that they use blue liquid rather than red to represent period blood! x

      Delete
  2. I agree that we need to increase visibility and have better representation in the media. I am not all that bothered by not calling it exactly what it is in the media, my sisters and I often say things like "my Aunt is visiting this week" and it's ok.

    Rosie

    https://www.loverosiee.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never heard of "my Aunt is visiting this week" before! That's a new one on me!

      Delete
  3. This is a really important topic. Recently, representation across the board became better It’s still not that accurate and serective in some kind of media
    that's why we still need more and accurate representation that doesn't shy away or treat this as something shameful, need to be hidden or that women can't control themselves when on period. Thank you for contributing to making menstruation and talking about it normal.

    Wafaa | www.loyaltyrain.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We definitely need more accurate information and representation in the media. This subject shouldn't be treated as shameful and embarassing. I'm glad you agree with me on the subject Wafaa!

      Delete
  4. So, what I wish they would discuss (which now Gen X and Millenial women are) the topic of perimenopause. NO ONE tells you that before menopause in your 50s you have like 10 years of all over the place menstruation with all the side effects.. thanks for discussing this topic of menstruation it's good to talk about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perimenopause is definitely a topic that needs to be discussed more. As you say, we will get symptoms of perimenopause in our 40s at some point and they can last for years x

      Delete
  5. Such an interesting post!

    Danielle Writes | danielle-writes.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  6. There is a lot of shame about menstruation in the media that it impacts the minds of teens. I remember girls teasing other girls for having their menstruation. It was not something that was talked about positively. I am glad that my mother talked to me about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does have an impact on young teens who are about to experience this. It should be talked about more positively and more openly as every woman has to go through this during their lifetime x

      Delete
  7. I am so glad that there is more representation about abnormal periods, I would have really benefited if this was around 10 years ago. I am grateful that shows such as This Morning and Loose Women are beginning to raise awareness for endometriosis (something that I suffer from), I only wish it was normal to say period instead of time of the month. As you said, it is a bit annoying - it's something that is completely natural for half the population!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Caroline, it's great that magazine shows like This Morning are raising more awareness of periods and conditions like endometriosis. The 'time of the month' phrase needs to be binned now! I hate it so much!

      Delete
  8. I honestly wish the media explored more about the female reproductive system in a more mindful way; I have PCOS and I honestly cannot recall a single time I've seen it fleshed out and covered properly in TV or movies that contain storylines. I think more awareness of the complexity of our bodies would absolutely benefit women AND men actually.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, PCOS is not talked about enough through the media and it affects so many women in the UK. Talking about PCOS as well as other conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis etc would be of benefit not just for men, but women too x

      Delete