Can You Really Empower Your Period? Yep. Here’s How…
At The Bitter Woman, we’re all about making empowering choices and, more importantly, helping the BIPOC community do the same. Frustratingly, most women and menstruating folk are led to believe that when it comes to picking period products, empowerment is off the table. And, nothing could be less true.
We like to think of it like this…
We put a lot of thought into picking the right products to put on our body, from lotions to hair oils and every self-care essential in between. So, why wouldn’t we put that same consideration into the things that literally go inside of us?
We get it. Sometimes, these conversations feel a bit, well, awkward. So, allow us to put a stop to taboo period topics and put the power of a healthier, more sustainable menstrual cycle where it really belongs…your fingertips.
Beauty Standards Vs. Women of Color: Why It’s Time To Rethink Everything
To put it mildly, women of color haven’t always benefitted from societal beauty standards. If anything, many women from the BIPOC community have struggled to establish their identities in a culture that historically values pale skin, untextured hair, and thinness.
And even though the culture has progressed, although very slowly at this point, in recognizing the beauty that is the woman of color, moving the needle even further in our direction only happens when we as individuals make informed, empowered decisions about the products we spend our money on.
In other words, if we want to tell a different story about our culture, we can start writing it through our choices.
How To Shop Like Your Life Depends On It (Because It Does)
Now, choosing personal care products isn’t just about rewriting our own narrative. These choices have far-reaching impacts that can impact the way we operate in a society that, to be blunt, is not concerned with our health.
If this sounds like an overreaction, it’s only because we’ve had to confront some painful truths in our pursuit of healthier alternatives for our sisters.
First, black women are nearly three times as likely to die during childbirth as their white counterparts. And while this alone may seem shocking, it speaks to a much larger issue at hand: the disregard for BIPOC voices in the healthcare space. Often, when seeking care for chronic or severe health conditions, black women are sometimes unfairly dismissed, characterized as demanding, highly emotional, or underestimated in terms of their knowledge and understanding.
Sure, we might know that this notion is a load of bull. But that doesn’t change the reality that when faced with a health emergency, either from menstrual complications or something entirely different, women of color are exponentially more likely to suffer fatal consequences of this particularly troubling brand of systemic racism.
Our point? If you have the power to choose products that protect your overall health, then it could quite literally save your life and set the bar for other BIPOC women to do the same.
Non-Organic Menstrual Products: What You Need To Know
Listen, we could go on all day about the lack of educational resources when it comes to period products. Instead, we’re gonna get straight to the point: What we choose to put in our bodies matters. And yes, that includes the things being inserted directly into your vagina.
Unlike your body's natural filter, the GI tract, that keeps out toxins, your vagina doesn't have such a defense system. Basically, anything you put in there goes directly into your bloodstream. That includes the dozens of harmful ingredients that are found in most traditional menstrual products.
Scary, right? Well, what’s even scarier is the fact the companies making period products are not legally required to list all of the ingredients in their goods. So, aside from the additives we already know about, like…
Fragrances, typically consisting of alcohol and other non-vagina-friendly ingredients.
Dioxin, which is a known carcinogen per the World Health Organization.
Plastic, fully packed with BPA and benzene.
The truth is that any number of dangerous ingredients could be lurking in our favorite tampon brand, and we may not even know it before it's too late. Just in case you were wondering, some of the most common period product side effects include:
Increased risk of cancer.
Abdominal pain.
Hormone imbalances.
Endometriosis.
Skin sensitivities.
And considering the, let's just say, pretty awful state of healthcare resources for BIPOC women, it's never been more crucial to minimize your chances of dealing with these conditions.
Organic Menstrual Products: How To Empower Your Period
Now that the bad news is out of the way, let’s talk about the silver lining. Today, more high-quality, eco-friendly menstrual products are hitting the market than ever before, making it easier to find choices for organic alternatives that align with our lifestyles and values. And no, we’re not just talking about tampons. In actuality, some of the best alternative menstrual products include:
Period Cup
Listen, how annoying is it to constantly be changing out tampons every few hours (and not to mention not everyone has the privilege to do so).. So, let us introduce the modern miracle known as a menstrual cup. These game-changing products are made from BPA-free silicone and can be comfortably and safely worn for up to 24 hours with no spillage. Best of all, these come in multiple shapes and sizes so you can find the perfect fit for your flow.
And even though these might be more costly than a box of tampons, they practically pay for themselves with the money saved from buying new period products every cycle, which comes out to be around $1,773 for the average woman.
Check out one by our favorite brands, the Cora cup, which is made from 100% sustainable ingredients.
Period Undies
If ditching the insertion game altogether sounds like a dream come true, reusable period underwear might be the solution you’ve been looking for. These panties, which thankfully come in countless cute styles, are made with extra lining that absorbs period blood while keeping you dry and stench-free. Plus, you can save yourself the cost of buying pads each cycle and reduce waste all in one. Now, that’s what we call a win-win.
You can even use those HSA/FSA (tax-free) funds to pay for them.
Organic Pads & Tampons
Sometimes, we think it’s better to stick with what you know. For those of us not ready to break up with our tampons just yet, there are tons of organic brands that give all the same leak protection you want without any of the harmful ingredients that you don’t. Even better, these products are often made from eco-friendly materials, so you can create an impact worthy of a BIPOC Queen.
You can even stock up at Target, so you never have to worry about running out when that time of the month rolls around.
The Future of BIPOC Periods
Ultimately, our goal is to help women of color go from being bitter to being better. For us, that starts with self-advocacy and having the courage to rewrite the narrative around what it means to be a BIPOC woman. No more settling for low-quality, harmful products, no more having health and wellness needs discarded, and no more being told that our environmental impact doesn’t matter. Instead, we’re ushering in a bold new era for BIPOC empowerment, one period at a time.
What do you think about this shift toward more organic menstrual product options? Sound off by sharing your store with info@thebitterwoman.com.
