Fear of a Crimson Planet: Information on Radical ... - Campus Activism

NOT ALL WOMEN MENSTRUATE
Most women will menstruate at some point in their lives, but to state that “all women
bleed” is inaccurate for several reasons.
Menstruation is not bleeding. There is no open wound. Menstruation is the shedding <strong>of</strong>
uterine lining when the egg is not fertilized during that cycle. Menstrual fluid is not
entirely composed <strong>of</strong> blood either.
Women might not menstruate because:
-They have not yet entered puberty (amenorrhea)
-They have gone through menopause
-They do not have enough body fat due to an eating disorder
-They are anemic
-Their method <strong>of</strong> birth control has eliminated or reduced their menstrual cycle.
-They have recently switched to a vegan or vegetarian diet, but do not eat well (noodles
and bread do not make a balanced meal).
-They are pregnant
-They are nursing
-They have had an hysterectomy
-They have a lot <strong>of</strong> stress—death <strong>of</strong> a loved one, job loss, etc.
-They have drastically changed their sleeping patterns
-They are over-exercising
-They are traveling
-They lack or have non-functioning fallopian tubes, ovaries, vaginas, etc.
Men might menstruate because:
-They were born with female reproductive organs, and have chosen to not have those
parts removed or operated on.
Gender is a social construct. Someone can be born with male chromosomes, but live as
a woman. Someone can be born with female chromosomes and identify as a man.
Some people believe that gender is obsolete, inconclusive, erroneous, and arbitrary.
Those who are born intersex may have a gender assigned to them.
For the sake <strong>of</strong> simplicity and coherence, female pronouns and references will be used
throughout, as it applies to the majority <strong>of</strong> those who menstruate, but at the same time,
it is acknowledged that not all who menstruate are women, and not all women
menstruate.
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