What if men had periods? A hashtag asking that question elicited myriad responses — some humorous, as expected, and others taking offense. But mostly, it raises an important topic that needs to be discussed on a global level.
The hashtag’s current virality seems to have been started by Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) whose Twitter bio credits her with being an OB/GYN.
On Monday night she tweeted “If men had periods pads would be free.” That tweet, which isn’t exactly a new notion, was retweeted 185 times and the hashtag #ifmenhadperiods was born.
If men had periods pads would be free
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) September 6, 2016
The concept of imagining a world with menstruating men has been around for awhile. Gloria Steinem was one of the first to bring the idea to the mainstream with her 1978 essay “If Men Could Menstruate,” which is worth reading in full.
Steinem proposes a range of ridiculous, yet plausible, outcomes: men would brag about how long and strong their periods was and tampons and pads would be free. Her consensus is, while much would change, power would not ultimately be more accessible to women.
In early 2016, the group WaterAid, which works to bring clean toilets to women and girls around the world so that they can keep attending school once they hit puberty, took the idea to a new level.
Inspired by Steinem’s essay, it created a campaign called #ifmenhadperiods, which explored how the world might be different if men, too, menstruated. In a series of videos, it imagined what hygiene products (“Manpons”) might look like, or how office culture might change if men also menstruated.
While the hashtag has existed for some time, its latest iteration on Twitter triggered a new wave of reactions, including some backlash.
Omg I'm dead 😂😂 #IfMenHadPeriodspic.twitter.com/MxXvV6QtvG
— Liz Finnegan (@TheGingerarchy) September 6, 2016
#IfMenHadPeriods tampons/pads would be free, you'd have time off from school/work, we'd have a pain killer that ACTUALLY stopped cramps.
— bria (@BriJamie) September 6, 2016
#IfMenHadPeriods they would be like: pic.twitter.com/ylF2awxDXH
— alessia pompeo ❥ (@pompeosanatony) September 6, 2016
#Ifmenhadperiods think about all the unnecessary wars and battles that would have been started for no good reason
— Sam Grittner (@SamGrittner) September 6, 2016
And some were not happy with the hashtag and came to the defense of both male and female transgender people who experience periods.
#IfMenHadPeriods is trending, but not just women experience periods. Inclusivity is important, always be considerate of your language ❤️
— DoSomething.org (@dosomething) September 6, 2016
#IfMenHadPeriods some men have periods. and some women don't have periods. some people who are neither have periods. periods aren't gendered
— nyanderwall (@fact501981) September 6, 2016
A review of the garbage, exclusionary, sexist, transphobic, ableist hashtag #IfMenHadPeriods: pic.twitter.com/EqBq4h00QT
— Jason Cantrell (@cantrellwriter) September 6, 2016
The truth is, periods are a problem for people all over the world. A lack of menstrual products, running water, and proper sanitation facilities keep young girls from going to school all over the world. This hinders their educational growth and, eventually, their professional prospects. That, in turn, keeps families and communities from experiencing economic expansion and financial independence.
The #whatifmenhadperiods hashtag is a good way to get people — especially men — to talk about this often overlooked issue. Only women directly suffer from lack of treatment during their menstrual cycles. But for this situation to change, everyone has to get involved in the conversation.