Okay, let’s talk about the “Michi Kake” health store at Daimaru in Osaka.
They had the brilliant idea (not) to create an optional “I am menstruaring” badge in Japan.
Let’s talk about why this is a problem.
A thread.
They had the brilliant idea (not) to create an optional “I am menstruaring” badge in Japan.
Let’s talk about why this is a problem.
A thread.
Last month, this store revealed their plan to allow their staff to wear these badges. They are optional (there is no legal way for these badges to be enforced, obviously).
They show Seiri-chan, a (creepy) character meant to depict periods.
They show Seiri-chan, a (creepy) character meant to depict periods.
The store claims people wearing these badges would be able to get more sympathy, longer breaks, more help. They would erase the stigma around periods by normalizing them.
I appreciate the sentiment but wow. This is wrong on so many levels.
I appreciate the sentiment but wow. This is wrong on so many levels.
First of all, not all periods are the same (hashtag not all periods). Some people have long periods. Some short. Some painful. Some not. Some don’t get periods.
Some people are okay talking about their periods. Some aren’t.
Some people are okay talking about their periods. Some aren’t.
By implying periods=weakness, you’re pushing the narrative that we’re less than cis men. Less strong. Less resilient. Less capable. Less stable.
(I’m saying this as someone with debilitating pain who would benefit immensely from special treatment—but I know pushing this narrative would hurt us as a whole and I refuse to put my *comfort* over other people’s *value*)
Do you believe we live in a world where others wouldn’t exploit that?
“She’s on her period, bet she’s in a bad mood.”
“She’s on her period, bet she’s distracted.”
“She’s on her period,...”
If a woman wearing that badge got rightfully upset they’d blame it on her period.
“She’s on her period, bet she’s in a bad mood.”
“She’s on her period, bet she’s distracted.”
“She’s on her period,...”
If a woman wearing that badge got rightfully upset they’d blame it on her period.
TW: rape and pregnancy
A Japanese user even expressed her concern that using this badge would make them a target for stalkers, who would know when to rape them in order to get/not get them pregnant.
A Japanese user even expressed her concern that using this badge would make them a target for stalkers, who would know when to rape them in order to get/not get them pregnant.
Periods are shamed and stigmatized as they are. By putting them in display as something cute, someone to look after, you’re infantilizing us.
Don’t give us badges: give us paid holidays for when the pain is bad. Train emergency doctors in gynecology.
Don’t romanticize periods.
Don’t give us badges: give us paid holidays for when the pain is bad. Train emergency doctors in gynecology.
Don’t romanticize periods.
This was a terrible idea with good intentions, and I’m happy to say the store promptly cancelled this after the backlash.
This is why we need more women in positions of power.
Let us take care of us—we know what’s best. /end
This is why we need more women in positions of power.
Let us take care of us—we know what’s best. /end
