When I was writing my undergrad dissertation, I read a lot about the concept of the outing of the menstrual status. This was portrayed as one of the greatest dangers for menstruating people around the world and something that menstrual leave would contribute to. But what does the outing of the menstrual status even mean? And why is it considered to be dangerous?
Definition
While ‘outing’ is generally revered to as the action of a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, revealing their gender identity or sexuality. This may also be done without the persons permission by someone else, and there by may lead to a number of negative consequences for the outed person, including discrimination, violence and shaming.
The outing of the menstrual status, is generally described as any action that shows whether or not a person is currently menstruating. Here again this might not be voluntary or with the menstruaters permission. The outing of the menstrual status violates the societal ideal of menstruation concealment, since menstruation is considered unfeminine and by that can lead to discrimination, violence and shaming.
Why is this considered dangerous?
One aspect is the still remaining tabu surrounding menstruation worldwide. Speaking openly about menstruation is still frowned upon in many settings. So much so that whenever I mention menstrual health and periods in conversations I am surprised when I am not confronted with a negative or silencing reaction. People who choose to reveal their menstrual status, may put themselves at risk and subject themselves to discrimination. Disclosure of menstruation can also lead to sexism and objectification, even on an implicit level.
The outing of the menstrual status is considered to be even more dangerous for non-binary, gender queer and trans menstruaters. This is especially significant for Trans-men. Trans-men are especially vulnerable during menstruation and the outing of the menstrual status might subject them to endangerment, violence and discrimination.
These are also some of the main reasons why many scholars oppose the concept of menstrual leave, because it forces people to disclose their menstrual status, which in turn can lead to discrimination or even violence.
Fight the Tabu
This is one more aspect that shows how restricting and at times dangerous the tabu surrounding menstruation is. The society we live in should no longer be a place where the natural occurrence of a period, is something that puts people in danger or makes them feel ashamed.
We have to actively fight the tabu and talk about the menstruation cycle and periods and not just with women. Men need to know about periods as well. While they might not get periods or have a complex hormonal cycle they go through every month, they have partners, children, colleagues and friends who do and in order to build an open and tabu free society EVERYONE needs to be educated on the menstrual cycle!
Sources
- Levitt, Rachel. B., & Barnack-Tavlaris, Jessica. L. (2020). Addressing menstruation in the workplace: the menstrual leave debate. The Palgrave handbook of critical menstruation studies, 561-575.
- https://www.menstruationresearch.org/2012/11/16/menstrual-outing-menstrual-panics/
- Picture Source: Canva
RedBee 
Leave a comment