Bloody hell.

Some days it really is just that much harder to get out of bed. And when you’re a women who’s bleeding, it’s even harder.

Now, I’m not here to bemoan the woes of women around the globe, and state how much easier men’s lives are, because they most likely aren’t. However, I would like to put forward the idea of bleeding days and the workplace.

Unless you work in an all female environment, you most likely don’t talk about what you feel like, much less that you are, in fact, bleeding. The stomach and leg cramps, the light-headedness, the rise in temperature – all these things you are dealing with on your own. You’re simply expected to get up and get on with in.

And yet in some other cultures this is seen as a sacred time, if not just a quiet time for women.

“Consider the practise of the Moonhut in some native cultures. At bleeding, women would gather together away from other members of the tribe to meditate, pray and receive guidance. Women doing this work together would have made this time more powerful due to thier combined collective energy. When their bleeding was over, these women would return to the tribe and offer guidance and advice based on their experiences.” www.menstruation.com.au

“In many other cultures, menstruating women went to a menstrual hut or a moon hut, (a small building away from the rest of the village). The people believed that women have incredible powers of healing and creativity, during menstruation, and that these powers should not be wasted on everyday work. Instead of working, a menstruating woman spent her time meditating on her life.” www.girlzone.com/bodyinsideoutwomanhood

This idea is really appealing to me. Having dragged myself into work today, where I feel I’ve been most unproductive, the concept of a moonhut is a dream come true. My mind is off somewhere else on the first day of bleeding, probably trying to escape the stomach and back ache that accompanies it. Concentration is difficult, unless it’s in a very quiet, and preferably dark place. Being surrounded by chirpy people and bright sunshine during this time is not my idea of a good time. Having to talk to people when you’d really rather claw their eyes out for no apparent reason is, quite frankly, a chore. And physical labour – gah. Sometimes just standing up is an effort, and all the muscles feel like they’re falling to the floor in a massive gooey heap. I could really use a day or two in a moonhut.

Instead, I have popped two 400g ibuprofen and just gotten on with it. With the anti-inflammatories pumping through my system, I’ve driven the 40 minute drive to work (and back) and fulfilled my obligations. And not very well, I have to admit.

Would things be different if men experienced the same thing every month? Would we get one or two day’s grace every month from work or other people demanding things of us at this delicate time? I wonder.

Barnett & Baileys

Hair is such a big thing in our Western Culture. Especially if you're Dolly Parton.

But seriously, I'm thinking about having the chop. I got to thinking today about how important hair is in our society in establishing what a person is like - much like clothing or the music one listens to. But hair is an even bigger issue for a woman. Yes, there are plenty of men out there who spend hours and insane amounts of money on their hair. But still that's the exception, and not the norm. Looking at hair from a western male perspective, long hair would symbolise LARGELY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY one of two things - either femininity or a penchant for Bon Jovi or Van Halen (or Poison, just to kill two birds with one stone). I have known (and dated) many men with long hair, as I love men with long hair. These men have been all man but still suffered under the indignation and jeers of their fellow Y chromosones, or stupid twats who come up to them and comment on how they thought he was a woman from behind. Long hair befuddles some men.

Short hair for a man symbolises masculinity - no fuss, no muss.

Is this the same for women? Have we gotten past the fact that short do's are "butch" or does it simply apply to who is sporting the cut? I think of women with short hair such as Audrey Hepburn, Janine Turner and yes, even Sinead O'Connor. I don't think any of them looked less feminine for having had the chop. Have we finally stopped equating one's hair length with one's femininity (if you're a woman)?

Tired of dyeing my hair, I think I'm going to go for it. I have been dyeing my blond hair red for a while now, thinking (and still agreeing) that blond is just plain old boring - everyone and their peroxide twin is blond. Growing up in Canada, the stigma of having red hair never arose - those with red hair were simply assumed to have fiery temperments to match.. not a bad thing, really. And whilst I wish I was naturally red, sadly I have plain old blond hair. I'd stick with red, as henna is a wonderful, natural thing. Only problem is, it is a complete pig to do every six weeks. And it doesn't come out with the usual colour removers you can have done at the salon.

So, looks like it's the chop for me. It'll be good for summer - with thick hair, and a hot summer (so they say) coming, it'll be a treat. I still have quite a bit of trepidation, as I haven't had my hair very short for about 15 years. I worry that only the very slim can get away with it. I worry that if I don't wear any make-up I'll be mistaken for a boy. I worry that I won't like it but will have to live with it.

But hey, it'll grow back. Like all of life's decisions, it seems big at the time, but in the long run, when you have time to reflect, it wasn't such a big deal after all. With a little Baileys, everything will be alright.

Blogging with trepidation...

A year ago I said I would never blog. Yet I miss writing, and have so little time to write these days. This might just be what I need in the interim.

And so the virgin blogger pops her cherry and hopes to have no regrets about it in future.

Yeah. Right.