Menstrating Men and Law Suits

The struggle behind Women's Rights is often over looked by the magnitude of Racial Rights. It is not brought to people's attention the inequality and enslavement women had to endure. The word feminist is almost a label with a bad connotation when in reality, it is an individual who is well aware of the subliminal inequalities of the sexes. Just as racial tensions exist, women inequalities exist as well, but more unnoticed. When a situation of inequalities rises, you'll hear "Oh it's because I'm black" far before you'll hear "Oh it's because I'm a women". Women fought for their rights just as African Americans did, but the instinct for men to be superior can not be changed with laws.

What really trips me up is that men think menstruating is disgusting and are rather afraid of it. But if men could menstruate, it wouldn't be so repulsive. In fact, it would become a prized novelty. This notion was brought to my attention in Gloria Steinem's If Men Could Menstruate paper. At times, the paper was a bit over exaggerated, but then the over exaggeration became a comedic effect. The whole bit about the sanitary supplies named Paul Newman Tampons and Joe Namath Jock Sheilds- "For Those Light Bachelor Days" was absolutely hilarious. Steinem made menstruation seem like an advantage or another excuse for men to be superior. She suggests that women in the military would have to "self inflict wounds monthly" since men would have shed blood monthly as well. Subliminally, Steinem was referring to the aggressive and sometimes ridiculously unnecessary behavior the military sometimes exhibits. Oh and that bit about lesbians, that was an awesome way to poke fun at homophobic people saying that lesbians would be known to fear blood and only need a good menstruating man in their life, much like the prevalent misconception that lesbians are only confused women who haven't found the right man. The intellectual arguments were hilarious as well stating that women aren't in touch with the moon cycles or the rhythm of the universe like men are. She described menopause as "enough years of cyclical wisdom", which is the exact opposite of how it is perceived today. In the end, men would only use menstruation as another means to assert power over women.

Margaret Fuller wrote an essay, in the form of a testimony, that accuses men of being unnecessarily unequal towards women. Not only is this essay filled with heat and passion for women's rights, it poses great ideas and arguments that are truly convincing. Her approach suggests that women already have a great influence over men (wives, mothers, sisters) and that women find ways to go around the constricting, ridged laws men create. "The women, shut out from the market-place, made up for it at the religious festivals. For human beings are not so constituted, that they can live without expansion; and if they do not get it one way, must another, or perish". This quote goes to show that, as human beings, we cannot be kept in one place for long periods of time and that we will by nature give into the instinct to expand our surroundings. Fuller also talks of how unfair it is for the problems and concerns of women to be represented by a man in the law. Men believed at this time that women were incapable of expressing such discomforts and problems. Such occupations as actresses and Quaker preachers are done by women that "can express publicly the fullness of thought and emotion, without losing any of the peculiar beauty of her sex". This is a perfect way of suggesting equal representation. Towards the end of the essay, Fuller talks of how women's rights would not only benefit women, but benefit society as a whole creating harmony. Since women were already on the same level of rights as African Americans, giving women rights would only create more unity within society. Her last sentence is what really clinched the argument. "There is but one law for all souls, and, if there is to be an interpreter of it, he comes not as man, or son of man, but as Son of God". As for it is true now as it was true then, in the end, the only laws that will matter will be the ones set by a greater being (whether it be God or not).