Feminists Are Fed up with Patriarchal Shame: Warning! Not for the Faint of Heart!

By Kim D.

Imagine strolling down the street and happening upon a pack of feminists wearing white pants, noticeably stained in red at the crotch area. Most would react with horror until they saw the women laughing and obviously unharmed. Naturally, such a sight would lead to a question of why on earth women would be parading around in bloody pants.

Meet Sangre Menstrual and their feminist performance artwork who recently took to the streets to visually demonstrate their Manifesto for the Visibility of the Period. According to Beautiful/Decay, by making a public display of their shedding uterine linings, the group hopes to reclaim the female body and free normal bodily functions from shame and judgment. Since the earliest books of the bible and before, menstruation has been viewed as unclean, and often women have even been kept separate from men during their periods. Sangre Menstrual, whose name literally translates to “menstrual blood,” intends to change all that. In their manifesto, the group of women write, “I stain [my pants], and it doesn’t make me sick. I stain [my pants] and I don’t find it disgusting.”

Personally, as a woman, I find this offensive and not because I am ashamed of having a menstrual cycle. This is simply gross and has no artistic value whatsoever. For those brave enough to view more, click here to see a complete photo collection of this disturbing feminist display. But, fair warning, viewing advised only on an empty stomach.