Ladies across America are sending hearts and clapping emoji to two guys brave enough to stand up against period shaming.
It’s pretty common for some men to shy away from the topic of menstruation because of the stigma placed on it, but Chance Ward, a student at Occidental College in Los Angeles, wrote a spirited Facebook post on March 22 telling men to “keep your menstruating friends in mind.”
The message wasn’t necessarily addressed to men who poke fun at women for being “on the rag.” Rather, Ward encouraged men to go a step beyond just quietly ignoring the fact that women menstruate and keep supplies on hand at home in case a guest needs emergency feminine protection. And men shouldn’t be afraid to approach the topic, he added, because periods are nothing to feel shame about.
“Like why? Y’all know literally like half this world goes through this?” he said.
Even when Ward is working out at the gym, he keeps tampons in his fanny pack just in case anyone is in need. When he recently overheard a woman ask her friend for a tampon, he told her “girl, u gucci” and handed her one.
“Never feel embarrassed for asking for one. Never feel embarrassed for being human,” Ward said in his Facebook post.
The critical theory and social justice student’s Facebook post later went viral, with more than 40,000 likes and reactions, along with more than 9,000 shares. Women and girls replied to the post, calling Ward an MVP, a gift to this world and a hero.
When 15-year-old Jose Garcia asked men on Instagram to bring pads or tampons to school last May, the Internet went into a stir.
He urged men to support women by helping out when Aunt Flo pays a visit — and told women they can ask for a pad or tampon anytime.
“We should all help each other out like this, so you don’t have to thank me at all,” he said in the now-deleted post.
He ended his public service announcement against menstrual stigma with #realmensupportwomen. The status exploded with more than 19,000 likes.
Kotex gave props to Garcia for trying to end the taboo around guys getting involved when it comes to periods.
“If you have any respect for your mother, your girlfriend, or just women in general, I expect for you to follow me on this,” Garcia said on Instagram.