¿Por qué mamá lo dijo? Part II: Menstruation

Written by Short Latina

Women were interviewed for this piece and each openly shared about their relationship with their mothers. With mixed and layered emotions, each woman became vulnerable to the pain, shame, resentment that carried their responses. Each question dug out what was once forgotten, maybe forgiven. The sighs and the pauses revived once buried memories. There were smiles and chuckles as the stories were retold. Many shook their heads in awe of their own lost, stubborn, strong and determined teen behavior. Little regret could be seen in their eyes and their laughter confirmed the joy they felt to know they were now older, wiser and freer women. 

Machismo has claimed our calzones.

In thinking about menstruation, as women we find it painful, at times annoying, but still part of our womanhood. Yet, some of us were taught to hide it, or not taught at all. Melissa 43, shared “My mother never discussed my period with me, she never spoke about any of that until it started. Most of what I learned about that kinda thing came from either health class or friends.” 

Despite the silence of our mothers, some express joy subtly. Patricia,  31, shared her mother’s response when she informed her her “regla” had come. “One thing that I do find really very dear, she must have had this ready, but she gave me a necklace with the Virgin on it, and my mom is not very religious. We went to church once in a blue moon, but she must have had it ready for when I got my period.” 

Whatever the reason, our mothers never instructed us in the art of placing las alitas just right, we cannot forget our mothers had their first period story too.

Faby 23, shared her mother’s traumatic experience since Faby’s mother never told her about her “regla.” Her mother hoped to do better by Faby and told her enough to prevent the same embarrassment. There are many reasons why women fail to end the cycle of silence, but each generation is trying to remedy their mother’s mistakes. As women, we are slowly closing the gap in communicating about menstruation between women, but not men. They are the reason some of us hide our pads and tampons under our sleeves at work. Their discomfort is what makes us whisper and speak in code. If men squeal and gag at the presence of a bloody pad and tampon, but not at their medium rare steak, they are the problem. 

Instagram: @ShortLatina_Stories and @NerdyLatinasPodcast

Twitter: @shortLatina_ and @NerdyLatinas