Latest news with #menstruation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
13 Things Women Do That Most Men Couldn't Handle For A Day
Navigating the world as a woman comes with a unique set of challenges and experiences. While each gender faces its own hurdles, there are some aspects of a woman's daily life that you might find surprisingly demanding. Let's dive into a few things women handle with finesse that might be more than a handful for the average man. 1. Managing The Monthly Cycle Experiencing menstruation is more than just physical discomfort; it's a multifaceted challenge. From cramps to mood swings, the monthly cycle can be a test of endurance. According to Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics, many women navigate this without letting it hinder their daily responsibilities. You may not realize it, but the ability to continue with normal activities while in pain requires a great deal of resilience. Imagine feeling like you're in a constant battle with your own body. Beyond the physical symptoms, there is also the challenge of societal perceptions. Women often face stigma or embarrassment discussing menstruation openly. Imagine having to make sure you're prepared at all times with sanitary products, while also ensuring discretion. This daily juggling act requires constant mental preparedness and resilience. Handling this silently and efficiently is a skill women refine over the years. 2. Navigating Beauty Standards Women often feel immense pressure to meet societal beauty standards. The constant barrage of advertisements and media images can create unrealistic expectations. On any given day, many women invest significant time and energy into their appearance. This isn't just about vanity—it's about navigating social expectations and the judgment that comes with it. Imagine starting each day with the awareness that your appearance will be scrutinized. The process is not only time-consuming but also financially draining. From skincare routines to makeup products, it can require a substantial part of one's budget. Despite the effort, there's always a societal critique waiting at every corner. The pressure to look a certain way can be mentally exhausting. It takes a lot of inner strength to navigate these expectations daily. 3. Dealing With Unwanted Attention Walking down the street can feel like running a gauntlet of unwanted attention. Catcalling and unsolicited remarks are more common than you might think. A study by Cornell University and anti-harassment group Hollaback! revealed that 65% of women have faced street harassment. Imagine feeling unsafe or uncomfortable while doing something as simple as getting groceries. This constant vigilance can be incredibly taxing on mental health. This isn't just an occasional nuisance—it's a constant part of the daily routine for many women. The need to be aware of your surroundings at all times can be draining. Some women even change their behavior or appearance to avoid attention. It's a complex dance between asserting one's independence and ensuring personal safety. Imagine the emotional toll of being on guard constantly. 4. Balancing Career And Family Many women expertly juggle their careers with family responsibilities. With the dawn-to-dusk nature of both roles, this balancing act is a daily challenge. Imagine having to shift gears seamlessly between a meeting at work and a family dinner. Women often shoulder a disproportionate amount of domestic responsibilities. Even with supportive partners, the mental load can be overwhelming. Beyond the logistics, there's the societal expectation of doing both flawlessly. Women are often expected to excel at work while being the primary caregivers at home. This dual expectation requires a unique blend of energy, time management, and emotional resilience. Picture having to perform at your job and then perform again when you get home. It's a marathon that requires constant endurance. 5. Facing Bias In The Workplace Gender bias remains a challenging issue in many workplaces. Women often face subtle and not-so-subtle forms of discrimination. Research by McKinsey & Company highlights that women are often overlooked for advancement opportunities compared to their male counterparts. Imagine working just as hard, if not harder, and still being undervalued or underpaid. This bias can affect both motivation and career trajectory. The pressure to prove oneself can be exhausting. Women often feel the need to outperform to gain the same recognition as their male colleagues. This constant drive for validation adds an extra layer of stress. It's not just about doing the job but constantly proving one's worth. Imagine the mental fortitude required to thrive in such an environment. 6. Experiencing Body Changes Women undergo significant physical changes throughout their lives. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause all bring unique challenges. Each phase requires a woman to adapt and embrace new aspects of her body. Imagine dealing with these changes while maintaining daily routines and responsibilities. It's a lifelong journey of self-acceptance and adaptation. Beyond the physical, there's a psychological component to these changes. Society often scrutinizes women's bodies, adding layers of pressure. Handling these shifts with grace and resilience requires a robust mindset. Imagine having to constantly adjust to your body's new norms. Each phase brings its own set of challenges and learnings. 7. Handling Emotional Labor Emotional labor is the unseen effort women often provide in maintaining social relationships and household harmony. It's the invisible work of remembering birthdays, planning family gatherings, and providing emotional support. According to sociologist Arlie Hochschild, women disproportionately bear this responsibility. This isn't just about being organized—it's about carrying the mental weight of others' needs. Imagine the mental bandwidth required to juggle these tasks on top of everything else. Emotional labor is often underappreciated but crucial for family and social cohesion. It involves empathy, patience, and the ability to anticipate others' needs. Imagine being the go-to person for emotional support while managing your own emotions. The expectations and pressure can be overwhelming. Handling this with grace is a skill women have honed over generations. 8. Combating Social Pressures To Conform Women face immense pressure to fit into societal molds. Whether it's about lifestyle choices, parenting, or career paths, there's a constant push to conform. Imagine having to constantly justify personal decisions to others. This societal scrutiny can be incredibly suffocating. It's a balancing act of being authentic while navigating external expectations. This pressure starts early and follows through adulthood. Women are often judged more harshly for their choices, from career paths to family structures. Constantly being under a microscope can be mentally exhausting. Imagine the inner strength required to chart your own course amid criticism. Embracing individuality while managing societal pressure is no small feat. 9. Tackling Financial Inequality Despite advancements, the gender pay gap persists. Women often earn less than their male counterparts for the same work. This financial inequality can affect life choices and opportunities. Imagine working just as hard and still having to fight for equal pay. It's a frustrating and demoralizing battle that many women face daily. Beyond salary, financial inequality impacts long-term financial security. Women often have less savings and smaller retirement funds. This disparity requires women to be more strategic about financial planning. Imagine the burden of having to constantly justify and negotiate your worth. It's a hurdle that requires determination and resilience to overcome. 10. Building A Support Network Creating a reliable support network is crucial yet challenging. With busy schedules and competing priorities, women often work hard to maintain friendships and connections. Imagine having to constantly nurture relationships amid life's demands. A strong support network provides emotional and practical assistance. It's a pillar of strength in times of need. Beyond immediate circles, women often engage in community building. Whether through social groups or online communities, these networks offer solidarity and support. Maintaining these connections requires effort and intentionality. Imagine the energy needed to both give and receive support on a regular basis. The ability to foster and sustain these ties is a remarkable skill. 11. Advocating For Personal Rights Women often find themselves advocating for their rights and autonomy. Whether it's in healthcare, career, or personal relationships, asserting oneself is necessary. Imagine having to fight for basic rights and freedoms that should be a given. This advocacy is both exhausting and empowering. It's a testament to the strength and resilience women possess. The fight for rights is an ongoing battle with ebbs and flows. Each generation carries the torch for greater equality and freedom. Advocacy requires courage, persistence, and a clear sense of self-worth. Imagine the tenacity needed to stand firm in your beliefs amid opposition. It's a fight that requires both heart and mind. 12. Managing Household Duties Women often take on a larger share of household responsibilities. From cooking to cleaning, these tasks are time-consuming and relentless. Imagine the energy required to maintain a household on top of other commitments. This domestic workload is often invisible yet critical. It's the backbone of a smoothly running home. Balancing these duties with work and other responsibilities is a true juggling act. Women often have to multitask to keep everything running smoothly. Imagine the mental load of constantly planning and organizing tasks. It requires precision, patience, and perseverance. Managing a household is a full-time endeavor that demands both time and energy. 13. Facing Health Disparities Women often encounter disparities in healthcare treatment and access. From being underdiagnosed to having symptoms dismissed, these gaps are concerning. Imagine having to advocate for your health while navigating a complex system. This disparity requires women to be proactive and informed about their health. It's a challenging landscape to navigate. Access to quality healthcare should be a given, yet many women face barriers. These challenges can have long-term impacts on health and well-being. Women often need to be their own advocates, pushing for tests or second opinions. Imagine the stress of having to constantly fight for proper care. It requires knowledge, persistence, and assertiveness to ensure one's health needs are met. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Two arrested after school girls in India allegedly made to strip for period check
A school principal and an attendant have been arrested in India after allegations that female students were stripped naked to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found on a toilet wall. The police action came after the mother of one of the "10 to 15 girls" who were put through the alleged humiliation lodged a complaint. The incident took place on Tuesday in a village not far from Mumbai city. On Wednesday, parents protested at the school, demanding strict punishment against the authorities. In a video, the school principal is seen arguing with angry parents - she denies that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place. Senior police official Milind Shinde told the BBC on Thursday that they were investigating the allegations. The arrested women would be produced in court later in the day, he said. The police complaint names four other teachers and two trustees of the all-girls school in Thane in the western state of Maharashtra. BBC has reached out to the school authorities for a response. In their complaint, police have invoked sections of the law that deal with assault and intent to outrage modesty of women. They have also added sections from the stringent Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. The parents have alleged that all the students from 5th to 10th classes - who would be between the ages of 10 and 16 - were summoned to a hall by the school principal on Tuesday. There, they were shown photos from the toilet on a projector, including that of a hand stain, and those who had their periods were asked to raise their hands. A teacher collected hand prints of all those who did. At least 10 to 15 girls who said they weren't menstruating were then taken to the toilet, forced to strip and went through an inspection. The child whose mother lodged the police complaint has alleged that her daughter, who didn't have her period, was scolded and asked why she wasn't wearing a sanitary pad. Her hand print was also collected. She said her daughter "felt very ashamed" because of what had happened. Some of the parents told the BBC that their daughters were traumatised. "The incident raises serious questions about the safety of our children. Our girls are very afraid. The government should take strict action against the school," one parent said. The mother of one of the students told BBC Marathi that when confronted, the principal denied everything. "But the school didn't have an answer when we asked them whether so many girls could be lying," she said. Banished for bleeding: Tribal women get better period huts Why are Indian women 'Happy to Bleed'? Why are menstruating women removing their wombs? Periods have long been a taboo in India where menstruating girls and women are considered impure and excluded from social and religious events. And incidents of shaming female students have been reported in the past too. In 2017, 70 students were stripped naked at a residential school in Uttar Pradesh by the female warden after she found blood on a bathroom door. In 2020, 68 students living in a college hostel in Gujarat were strip-searched after they stopped reporting their periods to authorities to avoid restrictions which barred them from entering the temple and the kitchen or touching other students. At meal times, they had to sit away from others, and in the classroom, they were expected to sit on the last bench. The regressive ideas are being increasingly challenged by urban educated women, but success has been patchy and women in many parts of the country continue to face discrimination.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- The Independent
Principal arrested after girls stripped for ‘period check' in India school
Police in India arrested the principal and an attendant of a school for allegedly stripping around 10 girl students to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found inside a toilet. The incident took place in Thane in western India's Maharashtra state when blood stains were spotted in a washroom by the school's staff members on Tuesday. The Thane Rural Police issued a statement confirming that they have taken action against the school authorities after parents of the aggrieved minors staged a protest. The information to the school principal about the stains in the washroom led to the faculty summoning the girls from grade 5 to grade 10 at the convention hall. The students were then shown photos of the blood stains in the toilet and on the tiles, police said. School teachers then asked the students to disclose their period cycles and confirm who was on their periods. The teachers noted down the details of the girls and teenagers who raised their hands and took them to the washroom where they were stripped and checked by the attendants, police said, according to The Indian Express. The principal and the attendant arrested are both women. The students reportedly went home in tears and informed their parents about the disturbing probe by the school authorities. Several parents on Wednesday went to the school and protested against the act. The parents also demanded strict action against the management and teachers. One of the students complained she was asked by the principal about why she was using a sanitary pad when she was not on her periods. The principal then accused the student of lying and forced her to submit a thumb impression, according to the Thane Rural Police. A parent said that the action by the school teachers 'amounts to mental harassment to the girls'. The police have also arrested four teachers and two trustees for the incident and the arrested will be produced before the court on Thursday. All have been booked under relevant sections of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The investigation is underway and the police officials said they are collecting more evidence from the students. The school principal denied that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place, according to the BBC.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Thane, Maharashtra: Two arrested after school girls allegedly made to strip for period check
A school principal and an attendant have been arrested in India after allegations that female students were stripped naked to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found on a toilet police action came after the mother of one of the "10 to 15 girls" who were put through the alleged humiliation lodged a incident took place on Tuesday in a village not far from Mumbai city. On Wednesday, parents protested at the school, demanding strict punishment against the a video, the school principal is seen arguing with angry parents - she denies that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place. Senior police official Milind Shinde told the BBC on Thursday that they were investigating the allegations. The arrested women would be produced in court later in the day, he police complaint names four other teachers and two trustees of the all-girls school in Thane in the western state of Maharashtra. BBC has reached out to the school authorities for a their complaint, police have invoked sections of the law that deal with assault and intent to outrage modesty of women. They have also added sections from the stringent Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) parents have alleged that all the students from 5th to 10th classes - who would be between the ages of 10 and 16 - were summoned to a hall by the school principal on they were shown photos from the toilet on a projector, including that of a hand stain, and those who had their periods were asked to raise their hands. A teacher collected hand prints of all those who least 10 to 15 girls who said they weren't menstruating were then taken to the toilet, forced to strip and went through an child whose mother lodged the police complaint has alleged that her daughter, who didn't have her period, was scolded and asked why she wasn't wearing a sanitary pad. Her hand print was also said her daughter "felt very ashamed" because of what had happened. Some of the parents told the BBC that their daughters were traumatised. "The incident raises serious questions about the safety of our children. Our girls are very afraid. The government should take strict action against the school," one parent mother of one of the students told BBC Marathi that when confronted, the principal denied everything. "But the school didn't have an answer when we asked them whether so many girls could be lying," she for bleeding: Tribal women get better period hutsWhy are Indian women 'Happy to Bleed'?Why are menstruating women removing their wombs?Periods have long been a taboo in India where menstruating girls and women are considered impure and excluded from social and religious incidents of shaming female students have been reported in the past 2017, 70 students were stripped naked at a residential school in Uttar Pradesh by the female warden after she found blood on a bathroom 2020, 68 students living in a college hostel in Gujarat were strip-searched after they stopped reporting their periods to authorities to avoid restrictions which barred them from entering the temple and the kitchen or touching other meal times, they had to sit away from others, and in the classroom, they were expected to sit on the last regressive ideas are being increasingly challenged by urban educated women, but success has been patchy and women in many parts of the country continue to face discrimination.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brooks Nader's Wimbledon Whites Were a Serve — Until a Period Plot Twist Stole the Show
It's tradition to wear white to Wimbledon, but the color of the outfit doesn't always take into consideration someone's menstrual period. Just ask Brooks Nader. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model had a very relatable moment in her chic outfit for the storied tennis tournament. She looked fabulous in a black-and-white, polka-dot shirt and a long, white denim skirt with a zippered front. Everything looked perfect until she twirled around in her July 4 TikTok video. More from SheKnows Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Timeless Style Is Inspiring a 'Quiet Luxury' Revival 'Tries to be chic,' the 28-year-old influencer wrote on the clip. 'Starts 🩸 at Wimbledon.' As she turned around, the period stain was evident — and it's probably happened to everyone who menstruates at some point in their lives. Nader's Wimbledon moment was completely relatable. The comments under the former Dancing With the Stars contestant's video applauded her honesty. 'You're so real for this,' wrote one fan. Another added, '🩸 happens. Thank you for NORMALIZING it,' added another follower. And of course, there's also one supporter to remind Nader that she's 'ICONIC.' Nader isn't the only celebrity out there trying to end period stigma. Katy Perry accepted her Video Vanguard Award at the September 2024 MTV Video Music Awards with a classic opening statement. 'Oh my gosh. I did that all on my first day of my period, too,' she said at the podium after performing a medley of her greatest hits. 'Can you believe it?' Yes, Katy, we do believe it! Another Kate, Kate Winslet, was an early adopter in talking about her period. She described to Rolling Stone in 1998 what it was like to work on Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio while on her monthly cycle. 'I'm not saying it was all happy-clappy. There were days when you'd just think, 'Oh, my God, I've got my period and I can't get in that freezing-cold water today,'' she revealed. 'I remember standing up and saying to everyone, 'Listen, if it suddenly looks like Jaws, the movie, it's my fault.'' So, let's keep the conversation flowing — having a period is normal, even if it does come at inopportune times once in a of SheKnows Amber Heard's Entire Dating History: Johnny Depp, Elon Musk, & More 11 of Prince William & Kate Middleton's Biggest Relationship Controversies 13 Celebrities Who Secretly Welcomed Children During Affairs
