Bloody Talk
Hello everyone,
I’m @JM's wife, I’m French and currently live in France. I once opened a Douban account to list the films I had watched but quickly abandoned it, now I reopen it.
JM talked with me about his last post, I thought I should perhaps write something since he was writing about me and my ideas in that post, and it could be clearer for you if I speak directly. I write in English because I am not used to writing in Chinese.
I have been using washable menstrual pads for several years, I can’t remember, maybe 6-7 years? I first changed my habit when I realized that I was actually putting chemical products and plastic in contact with my vagina every month, I knew how bad it could be for my health. After starting using washable pads, I found that I enjoyed washing away the blood with water, I never liked the act of throwing away my blood in the trash. By washing my blood with water, I feel I respect my period, I respect the cycle of my body as a woman and it makes me feel more balanced. I used to study anthropology, in some societies women’s period is considered as a power, I think we women should not forget the intense force we have in our body. So, for me, changing my habit made me feel some kind of freedom as a woman.
Then I got more and more aware of environmental issues and realized the extent of the pollution created by menstrual pads. Some study say that menstrual pads can be made of up to 90% plastic (!). I thought the pollution problem is also bigger because talking about period is a taboo in our capitalist societies, period is made into a problem to be solved (by industrial companies). But period is not a problem, is it?
When I first met JM, I was very impressed how he advised me not to drink cold when I was having my period, I had never experienced that in France, that someone else, and a man! cared about my period. I was very touched by that. Later I got to know China better and I became impressed at how people in China have a very good sense of basic knowledge for their body and health compared to France. I always thought we French people should learn from you, and I have myself adopted some Chinese habits. Because I know how Chinese people generally care about their health, I thought that the issue of menstrual pads would be more welcome in China than in France in the public space. And I thought that from a health issue (I don’t want to harm my body) it could become an environmental issue which is much needed by China in contemporary time. I understand ecology requires changes of concepts that are difficult to conceive in the beginning, but I believe it can start from health considerations. I once talked with a Chinese female friend about it, and she seemed very positive about the idea.
So I have to say I am very surprised at the negative reactions following JM’s post. I assume most of you are women. I am not sure why many of you show some kind of anger? Is it because it was posted by a man? I must say it is me who always brought this topic with JM and he didn’t particularly seem active on the issue, so I am impressed that he dared to care about it as a man and to talk about it in the public space, did you think about that? Is it because it is the social media’s function to allow people to throw their anger openly at someone while hiding behind a screen? It seems to me very unfortunate that people should react like this, only by rationally and logically expressing themselves can women fight for their cause. I also wonder: is it possible to be sincerely anti-ecologist? Why don’t you try to think calmly instead of attacking, why can’t we discuss a simple issue with the minimum of logic and sincerity? Is social media only about showing off that we have ideas, no matter the content of it? I don’t believe in that, I believe in constructive dialog, you may try with me if you like, in Chinese or English, just be sincere.
Last, I want to say that we shouldn’t think ecology in black or white (to care or not to care), ecology is first about diversifying habits in the everyday life. About the menstrual pads for example, it doesn’t have to be about radical change from one system to another, you can use both systems, try and imagine your own way, you can for example start using washable pads at home when you sleep, or during the weekend, then you will see if you can extend this new habit or not, and even if you only do it sometimes it will be a big change for yourself (because you become independent in choosing your way of life and no more dependent on companies providing solutions to “problems”) and for our environment!
Thank you for reading :)
