BY KUMAR
Imagine a world where menstruation was not a matter of shame, but of pride — because it happened to men. Imagine the “bros” in the gym locker room saying, “Dude, I’m on my third day and still benched 220 pounds!” Menstruation becomes a badge of strength and courage, a proud ceremony of transition from childhood to manhood. Advertisements showed athletes training hard, with the voiceover saying, “Bleed fearlessly. Bleed like a man.” This idea may seem a bit ridiculous, but it reveals a profound truth — the stigma associated with menstruation is not biological, but related to power.
In 1978, feminist writer Gloria Steinem wrote a satirical essay titled If Men Could Menstruate. She explained a world where men’s menstruation was a matter of pride and women were considered “weak.” Her idea was: “The experience of the ‘superior’ group is made to justify its superiority.” In this inverted reality, menstruation becomes a source of power and social respect in politics. Menstruation not a secret, but is universally accepted.
The media also embraced the trend. Instead of hiding in pale pink packets like they do now, the products are proudly displayed — with names like “ManFlow Max” or “Period-Pro Ultra.” Tampons were called “Manpons” — pill-shaped, black and chrome. Advertisements featured soldiers and sports heroes, with the slogan “Real men bleed.” Bold hashtags like #BloodBrothers and #PeakCyclePower trended, substituting milder terms like “feminine hygiene.”
The outlook on health and the workplace was also completely transformed. Research was conducted on topics like “male menstrual performance” and “cramp optimization.” Menstruation becomes a right, not a matter of debate. Even today, menstrual pain — sometimes as severe as a heart attack — is ignored in medical research and the workplace. Why? Because those in power don’t experience it. Power defines empathy, and empathy influences policy making.
This imagination isn’t just satire — it’s a mirror. It shows how gender bias has pulled our thinking and behavior around menstruation. If men could menstruate, the world would be different. So perhaps it is the time we should not get stuck in that imagination and instead create a world that treats all those who actually experience menstruation with respect, support, and dignity.