One of the great joys of writing articles for Cappuccino is the complete editorial freedom. I can, and do, write on any subject that interests me, and after years of penning articles-for-hire about air conditioning, water filtration, Botox, and sanitation services, I delight in this fresh air of whimsy.
As a Penis-American, I can safely ignore just enough of this topic to say that I know what I need to know. I'm not grossed out or disgusted by "female stuff," but I've always thought of that as being on a "need to know" basis. Since I grew up as the oldest of four boys, I REALLY didn't need to know. I learned as I went, which means my knowledge base has holes the size of Galveston Island.
However, I'm married to a Vagina-American, so I've come to understand just how much female reproductive functions have been used to repress women. C'mon guys! Surely, we can do better than this, right?
As for the clitoris, WTF is so mysterious about that? No one ever taught me about it- where it is, what it is, what to do with it- but I figured it out. How? By paying attention to how my partners reacted...and (here's something radical) by listening to them.
I am post-menopausal at this time. What a relief! The menopause part really sucked, especially the hot flashes, but now that I am past them, it's freedom.
My menstrual cramps were debilitating and very painful. While much of being older is no fun, this part I heartily endorse!
Thank you for writing about this mostly-taboo subject. The numbers of cultures in which menstruation is tabooed is immense. I think the worst part is those menstruation "huts" in which women are required to sequester themselves for the duration of their period, eyeroll. The concept that the bloody lining of the uterus, which nourishes babies, is "unclean" really pisses me off.
That concept, of women being "unclean" because of menstruation, pervades many upon many cultures, and is nothing but a ridiculous load of misogyny, in my world.
I confess to being profoundly ignorant on the mechanics here. I did not know, for example, what issues (if any) the tampon created for "virgins." (For all of that, I cannot for my life figure out what the evolutionary purpose of the hymen could possibly be.) Eh, the only virgin I was ever with was myself, and that was traumatic enough.
As a Penis-American, I can safely ignore just enough of this topic to say that I know what I need to know. I'm not grossed out or disgusted by "female stuff," but I've always thought of that as being on a "need to know" basis. Since I grew up as the oldest of four boys, I REALLY didn't need to know. I learned as I went, which means my knowledge base has holes the size of Galveston Island.
However, I'm married to a Vagina-American, so I've come to understand just how much female reproductive functions have been used to repress women. C'mon guys! Surely, we can do better than this, right?
As for the clitoris, WTF is so mysterious about that? No one ever taught me about it- where it is, what it is, what to do with it- but I figured it out. How? By paying attention to how my partners reacted...and (here's something radical) by listening to them.
Hey, 'tain't rocket science, knowhutimean?? PAY ATTENTION!!!
(He says as he slowly steps off his soap box, mounts his trusty steed, and rides off into the sunset.)
I am post-menopausal at this time. What a relief! The menopause part really sucked, especially the hot flashes, but now that I am past them, it's freedom.
My menstrual cramps were debilitating and very painful. While much of being older is no fun, this part I heartily endorse!
Thank you for writing about this mostly-taboo subject. The numbers of cultures in which menstruation is tabooed is immense. I think the worst part is those menstruation "huts" in which women are required to sequester themselves for the duration of their period, eyeroll. The concept that the bloody lining of the uterus, which nourishes babies, is "unclean" really pisses me off.
That concept, of women being "unclean" because of menstruation, pervades many upon many cultures, and is nothing but a ridiculous load of misogyny, in my world.
I confess to being profoundly ignorant on the mechanics here. I did not know, for example, what issues (if any) the tampon created for "virgins." (For all of that, I cannot for my life figure out what the evolutionary purpose of the hymen could possibly be.) Eh, the only virgin I was ever with was myself, and that was traumatic enough.
I agree—we need more full and open discussion...and I'm so glad you wrote this—excellent piece.