I disagree that periods *aren't* gross, but they're also no more gross than other bodily fluids and waste like urine, feces and vomit. Sometimes life is gross and that's nothing to be ashamed of. If you treat periods any differently from the above then that's a problem and a double standard.
some people have responded to this saying "period blood is as sanitary as venous blood" which, yes is true, but you still wouldn't want to sit in it on the bus or something, ESPECIALLY since blood-borne illnesses could still be transferred this way. Also, same with urine, while it is "sterile" inside of your body, the openings of your body are not! Once it leaves your body it has already been contaminated by the germs and bacteria around your genitals. The whole point is that, bodies are kinda gross, and that's ok. Having an accident or a bleed-through happens and it's nothing to be ashamed of, but it also isn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved and thats! okay!
The moment period blood becomes this "sacred, holy substance", that's when you get into misogynist, new-age trad bullshit that's usually also ableist and transphobic.
Period blood is just blood. If someone next to you on the subway started bleeding, sure, you might get squeamish, but you'd want to help them right? Same with a bleed-through.
It's okay to be concerned about the hygiene of period blood, because after all, it's bodily fluids. It's just not okay to treat people who menstruate like they're dirty or shameful. You wouldn't treat someone with a nosebleed like that, right?
Just....stop treating period blood like it's different, whether it's treating it like it's shameful or sacred. Both stigmatize menstruation and lead to harm.
