I still can't believe I'm going to write a post about this but here we go...
There are a few ladies who have been doing inspirational work regarding Generation Know. This organization is working with busting some of the myths related to female sexual health and helping younger girls to understand their bodies better. It is an amazing initiative as often times girls are just not educated properly or don't have someone to discuss these things with.
My own experiences as a girl... I was so clueless about anything until I came to Canada because we never had sex ed back in Ukraine. I remember coming back home with this book explaining all the female anatomy and information about the menstrual cycle and a bunch of pads in grade 6. When my mom got home she glanced at the book and said "So now you know everything..." That concluded "the Talk" that I had with my mom and it was never revisited. I can't imagine what would've happened to me if I got my period for the first time without knowing what it was. Probably would've thought I was dying or something...
Few years later when I actually got my period, I didn't tell my mom at first. When it got heavier I told her and she bought me a pack of pads... She kind of showed me how to use it and left me be. There were so many questions that went unanswered...
I remember getting a very low mark in grade 8 gym because I failed health class. There were all these ideas like contraception and STD's being thrown at me. I was so lost and confused... In my world boys had cooties and my teacher was an unapproachable judgmental bitch. Not taking those words back.
As I got older, things made much more sense as I dove deeper into the biology field. The biggest turning point in my maturity was probably anatomy class in second year university because there was no other way around it. At the morgue I've seen everything, from every angle- you name it. It really made me gain a great appreciation of how the body is constructed. Also, I was lucky enough to have a group of very close friends who I could talk to about absolutely anything. That made a whole world of a difference.
Remember not everyone knows all the facts and they could impede someone's quality of life. I was reading over some of the myths/ facts listed on the website and some are ridiculous while some are things that must be known. I actually used to believe some of these... Here's the list of a few I think are important to know
- A tampon get stuck inside of you.- False! Trust me the female anatomy is tiny and there's very little room to get lost in.
- You can get pregnant on your period. -True! Sperm can stay within the women's body for a few days and females can ovulate more then 1 egg per cycle. Even though you're menstruating it doesn't mean that the egg has been disposed of.
- You will lose your virginity if you use a tampon.- False! You might stretch the hymen though.
- You can't use a tampon if you're a virgin.- False! I've been told this one my whole life but it wasn't true.
- You can't go swimming on your period.- False! Another myth that I've been raised to believe in.
- You can't have sex when you're on your period.- False! As long as the guy is cool with it...
- You can get STD's from toiler seats.- False! STD's are bacteria and viruses which can't survive outside of the body for a long time and you would need direct contact with them.
- Exercising is bad during your period.- False! Exercise helps control cramps.
There were some crazy myths I came across as well.
- You will attract bears in the woods or sharks in the ocean
- Your dough will not rise when you're baking bread
- You will make the spaghetti sauce sour
- Your biggest crush knows when you're on your period
- Menstrual blood is different from regular blood
- Pineapple juice prevent pregnancy
It's crazy what kind of myths are out there. Can you imagine girls who are missing out on camping trips or trips to the beach just because they're on your period. Yet, even better if girls don't come near the kitchen during that time of the month.
What can you do to raise awareness? Check out the UKotex website and you can even order this free awareness necklace. Talking about sexual health shouldn't be taboo, it's what makes us human.
Were there any myths that you used to believe in? Did you feel you were educated about everything? How would you go about educating your daughters?
Love that you're drawing attention to this. I think kids are so under educated in some places. In the US, it is different from state to state and school to school. We learned a lot about STDs and had to take care of those fake babies in high school, but not much about preventing either situation...hello!!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I've heard about US- some states are really good education wise while other are horrible. Haha! A fake baby- are you serious? Most girls would probably think twice after that experience.
DeleteI loveee this post. LOL @ 'your crush knows you are having periods' ;)
ReplyDeleteI still believe I cannot swim while chumming
(not that I swim) but I would like to know how does one swim during TOM!
Also, I realized that work-outs help in reducing cramps!!!
My mom believed in that 'pickle' goes bad if you touch it during periods, well, I was always the 'cool' one and told her its bull!!!
I think I was educated well enough.
One just goes and swims during TOM... that's what I did when I went to Mexico plus it was just me and my mom at that beach. Ain' t letting mother nature ruin my trip :P Your flow gets lighter in the water too. If you're at a public place then use a tampon...
DeleteLol @ the pickle one!
Oh my gosh, I love that you call it "chumming" !!!
DeleteGreat post! I had pretty much no help figuring it all out either--my mom bought me a brief book about it all but we never talked--although I now we're a lot closer and tend to over-share about bodily functions if anything, haha. I think there needs to be some parent education to go along with teen education--I think lots of parents would do more/say more if they had a clue as to how to go about it!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it's just as awkward for them as it is for us. Maybe it's something that can be taught when parents take pre-natal classes. Wow, must be difficult to raise a teenager :(
DeleteI can't imagine anything more miserable than dealing with a teenager, haha. Major props to any parent that survives those years.
DeleteI know! Can't believe that I'll have to go through that one day 0.0
DeleteMy folks taught me about sex when I was about 7, I never had too many issues not knowing the facts...I grew up in a pretty liberal open atmosphere so I think everyone I knew was pretty well informed. Plus the majority of my dad's patients were HIV/AIDS patients so I guess I learned about everything pretty early.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day, Nadiya.
Wow you grew up in a very liberal environment. I can see why your parents would be compelled to educate you having seen so many HIV patients. It's crazy to think back of Ukraine because we didn't have sex ed class and I'm pretty sure the teens don't know anything about STI's. Might also explain why there're such high HIV rates in Ukraine.
DeleteHappy Valentine's Day <3
I was the same way! My parents NEVER talked about it. We had sex ed in school, but nothing that really explained what you WANTED to know. It's great that the internet is clearing up tons of myths...but also a bummer that it's simultaneously perpetuating crazy shit, too.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! There were a lot of assumptions about what some people knew in that class. Internet is a double edged sword but I guess as long as you're getting your info from credible sources and not random forums then it should be ok.
DeleteExcellent post Nadiya! My mom didn't talk to me enough (at all) about this stuff, it's one of the reasons I am so open with my kids. I never want them to feel ashamed or embarrassed about things that are just human nature.
ReplyDeleteI feel like you would be very open with your kids. You're right, we shouldn't be ashamed of something that makes us female :) We need to be proud <3
DeleteThanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it interesting :)
DeleteLove that you are bringing awareness to this issue! Education is so important and it shouldn't be shameful or a secret!
ReplyDeleteMy mum was very liberal and talked to me about all of it from a pretty young age. (when I started asking questions) But I know everyone is different and many parents are more conservative or uncomfortable with it.
I love how you said that it shouldn't be a "secret". I really don't know how women lived during Victorian Times :S
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