I was sitting in my kitchen eating lunch with one of my housemates earlier this week when she mentioned that her sister had told her about a movement that had sprung up recently here in the U.S. involving a boycott of feminine products. Well, that’s interesting, I said. What are they using instead? Nothing, my housemate replied, her eyes round as though telling me about a minor crime she had witnessed. They just bleed.
Well, I thought, this is worth looking into. It took me about one and a half minutes to get some answers (hey thanks, Google) Step 1: type “feminist movement not using feminine products” into search bar. First result: “Disturbing new feminist trend: Free-Bleeding”. Second result: “Free-Bleeding movement is 4chan hoax”. Interesting. I decide to start at the beginning so I click on the first result (and put the knowledge that Google now dictates what the “beginning” of my quest for knowledge is on the back burner for furious critical examination at another time). This article details the practice of the Free-Bleeding movement and the author, a self-proclaimed “proud, intelligent, educated, and body-conscious woman of modern times” condemns the movement as “a bad and ugly practice” (http://modernwomandigest.com/disturbing-new-feminist-trend-free-bleeding/ last accessed February 21, 2014) Noting the article’s unprofessionally constructed arguments, the complete lack of critical analysis , and the tone of unbearably uneducated condescension, I am instantly doubtful of its legitimacy. The author is also not listed, furthering my suspicion. But I know a little now about the premise of this supposed movement.
A little more research leads me to believe that Operation Freebleeding is, in fact, a hoax; a hoax that was apparently blowing up Twitter and Facebook for a while, though I never caught wind of it via those forums. Popular belief seems to be that the movement was created by 4chan, aka. “a group of teenage boys” to turn feminists against each other (http://www.dailydot.com/lol/free-bleeding-is-a-4chan-hoax/ accessed 2/21/14). Do you follow? Yeah, I don’t think I do either. But all this made me think. It made me think about periods. It made me think about feminists. It made me think about men, capitalism, shame, health, education, social media, scare-tactics, marketing, history, and culture. It entangled my thoughts. Fortunately, my thoughts are more and more used to being entangled since I began my feminist education.
For the purposes of this particular post, let’s talk about perio ds. I really want to talk about periods. The Vagina Monologues was just performed on the HWS campus, the Martini put out a fabulous Valentine’s Day issue that seemed to feature vaginas as it’s central theme; long story short, I have vaginas on the mind and I think I am not alone. Regardless of whether Operation Freebleeding was a hoax, it certainly has made people think about periods, and for me personally, it’s made me consider the idea of my period being a site for political action.
Here’s the thing: periods are already wrapped up in a lot of political stuff. For the sake of time and space, as well as the limited attention span of most readers, I cannot even begin to cover all of it. But let’s take feminine products for example. It’s true that the pads, tampons, and other commercial products we use today originally arrived on the consumer market designed, packaged, and peddled by men and of course the knee-jerk reaction goes something like, “Get out of my vagina! What makes you think you have the right to tell me what my vagina needs! You know nothing about me and my vagina! No vagina, no opinion.” The idea that women would want to take a powerful stand against our patriarchal, capitalist society looking at our periods primarily as a profitable niche in the consumer market is completely understandable. I think most feminists would totally get behind that. I would get behind that. After all, the technology behind feminine products is far older than capitalist economies. Women have been coming up with ways to control their periods for centuries. CENTURIES. Rags, leaves, sea sponges, lint, wool, moss, belts, aprons, the list goes on. There is very little that is anti-feminist about crafty technology that allows us to take control of our bodies.
So I’m curious as to why some might consider it liberating to let their periods flow out unmanaged. Think of the time one would have to spend removing stains. I think it has to do with the idea of confronting the shame culture that surrounds periods, and there’s a lot to be said for that, too. But obviously very few people are going to get behind a movement that involves blood flowing unimpeded onto whatever happens to be there, mostly because of the health risks involved in contact with blood.
So Operation Freebleeding may have been a hoax, but it’s actually brought up some good points. Why not claim our periods as a site for political action? If you’re angry at patriarchal capitalists using your period for it’s potential market value, then don’t let them! Get crafty. Craft period people have come up with some awesome stuff! Sea sponges, Diva Cups, Moon Cups, hell, make your own tampons! You know the needs and wants of your vagina better than anyone else. If you want to take a stand against the shame culture that has surrounded your period, I suggest you act like you’re not ashamed. Even if you are, if you don’t try to hide your tampons (or Diva Cup) from the world or only say period in hushed tones or code (Aunt Ruby, the crimson wave, etc.) people will never know. If we stop acting ashamed of our periods, maybe other people will stop expecting us to.
So, I guess thanks, 4chan, for making us think about periods.
Well, I thought, this is worth looking into. It took me about one and a half minutes to get some answers (hey thanks, Google) Step 1: type “feminist movement not using feminine products” into search bar. First result: “Disturbing new feminist trend: Free-Bleeding”. Second result: “Free-Bleeding movement is 4chan hoax”. Interesting. I decide to start at the beginning so I click on the first result (and put the knowledge that Google now dictates what the “beginning” of my quest for knowledge is on the back burner for furious critical examination at another time). This article details the practice of the Free-Bleeding movement and the author, a self-proclaimed “proud, intelligent, educated, and body-conscious woman of modern times” condemns the movement as “a bad and ugly practice” (http://modernwomandigest.com/disturbing-new-feminist-trend-free-bleeding/ last accessed February 21, 2014) Noting the article’s unprofessionally constructed arguments, the complete lack of critical analysis , and the tone of unbearably uneducated condescension, I am instantly doubtful of its legitimacy. The author is also not listed, furthering my suspicion. But I know a little now about the premise of this supposed movement.
A little more research leads me to believe that Operation Freebleeding is, in fact, a hoax; a hoax that was apparently blowing up Twitter and Facebook for a while, though I never caught wind of it via those forums. Popular belief seems to be that the movement was created by 4chan, aka. “a group of teenage boys” to turn feminists against each other (http://www.dailydot.com/lol/free-bleeding-is-a-4chan-hoax/ accessed 2/21/14). Do you follow? Yeah, I don’t think I do either. But all this made me think. It made me think about periods. It made me think about feminists. It made me think about men, capitalism, shame, health, education, social media, scare-tactics, marketing, history, and culture. It entangled my thoughts. Fortunately, my thoughts are more and more used to being entangled since I began my feminist education.
For the purposes of this particular post, let’s talk about perio ds. I really want to talk about periods. The Vagina Monologues was just performed on the HWS campus, the Martini put out a fabulous Valentine’s Day issue that seemed to feature vaginas as it’s central theme; long story short, I have vaginas on the mind and I think I am not alone. Regardless of whether Operation Freebleeding was a hoax, it certainly has made people think about periods, and for me personally, it’s made me consider the idea of my period being a site for political action.
Here’s the thing: periods are already wrapped up in a lot of political stuff. For the sake of time and space, as well as the limited attention span of most readers, I cannot even begin to cover all of it. But let’s take feminine products for example. It’s true that the pads, tampons, and other commercial products we use today originally arrived on the consumer market designed, packaged, and peddled by men and of course the knee-jerk reaction goes something like, “Get out of my vagina! What makes you think you have the right to tell me what my vagina needs! You know nothing about me and my vagina! No vagina, no opinion.” The idea that women would want to take a powerful stand against our patriarchal, capitalist society looking at our periods primarily as a profitable niche in the consumer market is completely understandable. I think most feminists would totally get behind that. I would get behind that. After all, the technology behind feminine products is far older than capitalist economies. Women have been coming up with ways to control their periods for centuries. CENTURIES. Rags, leaves, sea sponges, lint, wool, moss, belts, aprons, the list goes on. There is very little that is anti-feminist about crafty technology that allows us to take control of our bodies.
So I’m curious as to why some might consider it liberating to let their periods flow out unmanaged. Think of the time one would have to spend removing stains. I think it has to do with the idea of confronting the shame culture that surrounds periods, and there’s a lot to be said for that, too. But obviously very few people are going to get behind a movement that involves blood flowing unimpeded onto whatever happens to be there, mostly because of the health risks involved in contact with blood.
So Operation Freebleeding may have been a hoax, but it’s actually brought up some good points. Why not claim our periods as a site for political action? If you’re angry at patriarchal capitalists using your period for it’s potential market value, then don’t let them! Get crafty. Craft period people have come up with some awesome stuff! Sea sponges, Diva Cups, Moon Cups, hell, make your own tampons! You know the needs and wants of your vagina better than anyone else. If you want to take a stand against the shame culture that has surrounded your period, I suggest you act like you’re not ashamed. Even if you are, if you don’t try to hide your tampons (or Diva Cup) from the world or only say period in hushed tones or code (Aunt Ruby, the crimson wave, etc.) people will never know. If we stop acting ashamed of our periods, maybe other people will stop expecting us to.
So, I guess thanks, 4chan, for making us think about periods.