10 ▶ Social
Anna Wardecka
Bleeding in the Time of the Pandemic
W
hen in 2015 an Indian poet, Rupi Kaur, posted a photo of herself lying in bed, fully clothed, with a stain of blood on her light pants and a spot on the sheets, it was immediately taken down from Instagram on the grounds of the violation of the community standards. The same actions were taken after the image had been reposted. A few years later, a Swedish photographer, Arvida Byström, published a collection of pictures of women on their period in ordinary situations. The work was deemed “controversial” and “disgusting.” ‣ Several years have passed since then, yet something as inherent in human life as menstruation is still considered a taboo subject. Nowadays, besides social justice movements, trends of body positivity, inclusion, and female empowerment are emerging on social media. Instagrammers gradually shift towards posting more authentic representations of themselves, thereby promoting the natural image of the human body. It is not, however, done without a backlash. Ironically, it is other women who despise the acceptance movement. What is interesting is how people belittle the experience and the struggle with periods they themselves deal with on a regular basis. ‣ Apart from the lack of acceptance from the public, because of menstruation, women face yet another obstacle. There is nothing
