5.11.2007

if men had periods...


So what would happen if suddenly, magically, men could menstruate and women could not?

Clearly, menstruation would become an enviable, worthy, masculine event:

Men would brag about how long and how much.

Young boys would talk about it as the envied beginning of manhood. Gifts, religious ceremonies, family dinners, and stag parties would mark the day.

To prevent monthly work loss among the powerful, Congress would fund a National Institute of Dysmenorrhea. Doctors would research little about heart attacks, from which men would be hormonally protected, but everything about cramps.

Sanitary supplies would be federally funded and free. Of course, some men would still pay for the prestige of such commercial brands as Paul Newman Tampons, Muhammad Ali's Rope-a-Dope Pads, John Wayne Maxi Pads, and Joe Namath Jock Shields- "For Those Light Bachelor Days."

Statistical surveys would show that men did better in sports and won more Olympic medals during their periods.

from Gloria Steinem's classic essay, If Men Could Menstruate which is included in her book Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions.

Makes me laugh and shake my head every time i read it.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Joseph Santos-Lyons said...

makes me laugh to! i read this in college, but thanks for sharing again. miss you and the fam!

2:37 PM  
Blogger miranila said...

hey, Joseph! We miss you guys, too.

4:42 PM  

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