health
The Cost of ‘Natural’ Womanhood
Supposedly, the menstrual cycle is a gift. It’s a product of good design. It’s a miraculous dance of hormones that can’t be contained. Such are the messages flooding the internet these days, courtesy of lifestyle influencers, crunchy moms, so-called hormone coaches, and all sorts of popular entertainers.
TL;DR
- Lifestyle influencers and wellness trends are promoting the menstrual cycle as a mystical, empowering force, often framing hormonal birth control as harmful.
- This narrative exaggerates the impact of hormonal fluctuations on mood and can lead women to overlook or underplay genuine hormonal or mood disorders.
- The idea of 'natural' womanhood, driven by untamed hormones, can reinforce traditional gender roles, discourage the use of effective medical treatments, and subtly question women's capacity for equality and power.
- Modern medicine's historical underfunding of women's health contributes to the appeal of 'natural' approaches, but abandoning hormonal treatments means losing their significant benefits for various conditions.
- The belief that women are ruled by uncontrollable hormones has historical roots and can be used to argue against women's equality in professional and political spheres.