Menstruation is not something I ever talk about in a public setting, let alone in a business one.
As progressive as our society is, young people have inherited the act of concealing and hiding menstruation. Having a period can lead to embarrassing situations, mishaps and unexpected events, and while all of this is happening, you must pretend that it’s not happening.
This is a cultural thing passed down from generation to generation and it’s something that will take time to unwind. If we want to change it, we have to be willing to address it.
Over the past few years, I have been fascinated by the concept of period parties. A quick Google search will garner funny videos, Pinterest pages and comedians such as Bert Kreischer promoting period parties.
If you’ve never heard of a period party, it’s a gathering to celebrate a young menstruator’s first period, with a funny cake, period-themed games and decorations.
I know that many readers will think back to their younger years, and how horrible it would have been if their mother threw them a period party. I, too, would have been horrified at the thought when I was 12. The feeling of wanting to run and hide from this type of party demonstrates the shame and embarrassment that comes with menstruation.
Many Indigenous communities have coming-of-age ceremonies. Since I’m adopted, I am not sure exactly what Indigenous community I am from and therefore I don’t know what my ancestors would have done culturally to mark the occasion.
For me, offering my daughter a period party was my own way of honouring the practice. There are many cultures that mark this occasion and celebrate it openly.
The period party I recently threw had red chocolate fondue with marshmallows, ketchup chips, pizza and a red velvet cake decorated with little icing vaginas that read “Happy first period.” It was a very strange phone call to the bakery.
I had three tweens and some supportive adults celebrate the occasion with silly party games such as pin the pad on the period, tampons in a bottle and a tampon toss. Sounds silly and weird, I know. Creating silly games gets the kids to engage.
Behind the silliness and bizarre games, I wanted to break the stigma and shame that young menstruating people get fed. With half the population experiencing this, it should be normalized. To normalize it, we all need to step out of our comfort zones and not take the taboo too seriously.
Period parties manifest community support, camaraderie and openness.
As I watched the three girls at the party learning about menstrual products, laughing and asking questions, I knew that this is a healthy way to bridge the conversation from awkward to easy.
I could tell that my daughter felt celebrated and supported by friends and family. It took the shame away and replaced it with silliness.
Things in the world right now are tough, and if we can find things to celebrate that can also raise our confidence and awareness, why not?
