are modern women working against their own physiology?
Women make up over half the human population, so why is it that in most cases, especially in the corporate world, are we practically forced to work through our bodies constant changes?
Have you ever heard the saying “Hell is a Teenage Girl”?
When you’re born a female, you typically get your first period around age 11-14. I got mine when I was 11, in gym glass, and I thought i was fucking dying. I knew that it was coming any day now, but if you remember getting your period for the first time, then you get it.
You’re fully matured now, (or so you think.) & you’re completely used to your period, and/or on birth control thinking you got this shit deowwwwwn. And you do! But I hate to say it, your “second puberty” is coming, if it hasn’t already hit you in your 20’s. And SPOILER: this may last into your 30’s, & even more so if you have a baby. As you age into your mid to late 40’s turning 50, menopause is breathing down your neck. Your body is going through hormonal changes fucking constantly, & there’s nothing you can do about it.
Women are extremely hormonally regulated, while our counterparts (men) produce testosterone/sperm all year round, unregulated. We have a 28 day, monthly cycle, & men have a 24 hour cycle. Therefore, this 9-5 work week is only and forever working in a man’s favor.
The 8-hour work day originated in the 1800’s, but only became mainstream by Henry Ford in the 1920’s. At this time, ONLY men were allowed to make a living. So in short, 9-5’s were created by men, FOR men. While we as women owe everything to the suffragette movement, i wish they would’ve left that shit to the men, & I only say that in the sense that even now women must contribute to a capitalist culture, while still being paid less than men. We’re just too pretty for all that, don’t you think?
In February 2022, Belgium introduced a 4-day work week for employees that wanted it, without any loss of salary. It was introduced as a test-trial for about 6 months, & produced overwhelmingly positive results, with higher morale, better time management, and productivity. “The goal is to give people and companies more freedom to arrange their work time,” Belgium Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said in February 2022, as reported by Bloomberg. “If you compare our country with others, you’ll often see we’re far less dynamic.”
After reading about this my mind was blown. Why is flexibility in America so stigmatized?
If I’m menstruating, it’s 10x harder to get up in the mornings, likely resulting in me being late to work, or calling in all together. In Spain, (A country in Europe) began offering Paid Menstrual Leave for up to five days for working women on their periods. This is a huge step in the right direction for working women. While it’s still refined to Spain as of now, surrounding countries are now considering passing a similar bill.
In conclusion, what the fuck. What is a girl to do in a world made by men? Ladies, and all menstruating folks, we’re all doing our very best, and that's more than enough. We can only hope that in our lifetimes, we get to experience progressive things like this, but for now we’ll continue to plug it up, & trudge onwards.
Lemme Know What’s on Your Mind. Comment, or DM me on IG @zoeeuhh.
