The current era of technology has enabled humans all around the world to access any information with just a few clicks. Factual research has never been simpler - the way our ancestors intended. However, even as we live through 2025 - the world of feminine biology remains under-discovered and less talked about. Here’s a list of period superstitions that will blow your mind (that is, if you have one of course!)
1. Tampons Make You Impure
Widely believed in the United States of America, this one is a classic. Americans have an unexplainable distrust in Tampons - believing it to be able to break a woman’s hymen and make her impure.
2. Periods Ruin Pickles
Many South Asian communities hold the belief that if a woman touches pickle during her menstrual cycle, it will spoil. A woman is said to carry negative energy while on her period, which is thought to impact the pickling process
3. Slaps Make You Glow
We’re just as concerned as you are! This one has European origins but is still widely popular in most south Asian and south East Asian countries. When a girl gets her first period, her mother, or in some cases her grandmother, is supposed to slap her face. It is believed that this ritual will give the young woman beautiful and naturally red cheeks all her life.
In many Jewish and other cultures, it is also believed that the harder the slap the shorter the girl’s period lasts. It’s funny to note that in many communities, mothers following this tradition are not even aware of why it exists.
Some cultures also believe the slap is to awaken the newly fertile woman from the slumber of her childhood.
4. Bathing Bad
Taking a shower when you’re on your periods can stop bleeding, which is injurious to health. It is also believed that bathing during periods can cause infertility in women. Yikes! This is something men would come up with to avoid taking a shower if they had periods.
5. Washing Face with Period Blood
Can we not, can we just not talk about this please? Sigh! I’ll be talking about this in therapy.
There’s an alarmingly massive chunk of dead brains that think washing your face with period blood can give you clear, glowing skin! If you’re one of these believers, menstrual blood consists of dead skin cells, the shed uterine lining, and various other biological ingredients that may lead to inflammation or cause skin infections, but you do you boo❤️
In this era of self-driving cars and airplanes, women's bodies are still a taboo topic and are subjected to harsh and unrealistic traditions. It’s high time we, as a society, give importance to women and recognize their real problems and help them navigate through simple, natural phenomena like menstruation.
Phew! That last one really took a toll on me. I need a break. Until next time - please continue showering every day and no use of human blood in skincare. We will ban you as a subscriber - this is not a drill!
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