Many people still believe in superstitions about menstruation in the Philippines.
Strange as they seem, superstitions remain so common in our culture that some of us have actually followed them.
Just because some older person told us to!
Anyway, we came up with a list of some of the superstitions our team members have become so familiar with.
Smearing your first-ever flow on your face
This is said to help avoid acne. But of course, it’s also very gross.
Skipping three steps on the staircase
This, according to some, should be practiced to make sure one’s periods will only last for three days.
It can be very dangerous, though.
We have already heard a lot of stories involving young menstruators getting hurt in the process. Yikes!
Being prohibited from taking a bath
Taking a bath during a period, some people believe, can make one crazy.
Weird, because it actually feels great to shower as frequently as possible to avoid that icky feeling. It makes more sense, too.
Bad luck linked to periods
Of course, there are still those who choose to blame menstruating people for their misfortune. Uhm, what’s the connection?
Having a stinky period after accidentally stepping on poop
Some are kept from going out of the house to avoid stepping on dog poop by accident.
Why? Because according to some, it can make one’s period blood stinky. Shoes, maybe yes. But period blood? Seriously?!
Most likely, a foul odor in menstrual blood is more of a health issue.
What we really find problematic with these beliefs is that they fuel period stigma further.
Just because periods can be challenging to deal with doesn’t mean they should be antagonized this way, as though they were to blame for all the bad things happening in the world.
