I saw this link yesterday and decided to check it out because of the flabbergasted responses it was garnering on Facebook. You might have seen it floating around on Facebook lately - it's a satirical post on Aware and menstruation leave. I'm not even sure how this issue even came about (anyone read it in the papers recently?) but I'm downright disgusted by the comments left by netizens. Sure enough, the article was plenty much exaggerated and dramatic (the "scrunched up on our beds like a shrimp" analogy was creative and cute though) - which explains why it's getting such a heated response (from foolish people who probably couldn't see through the satire) - but I fail to see why people are responding so rudely with insensitive and disrespectful comments. At the milder end of the spectrum, some people feel that it is "pathetic" for women to request for such leave whereas others feel that it's a childish move and a 'girl-and-not-a-woman' thing - that one should grow up and deal with it like a working adult. (uhh, age doesn't make a difference when it comes to the extent of discomfort) A number of female commentators seemed to echo similar views in that they felt it was a totally unnecessary move. At the other end of the spectrum, we have people saying that it's ridiculous how women are demanding for an extra day of medical leave (yes, I think it is on a medical basis) and yet also want equal pay (essentially saying that women are always arguing about inequality in the workforce but here they are, seeking unequal employment terms) or that it's blatant inequality/preferential treatment (since NS Men do not get the equivalent leave). And then, there are the outright demeaning and repulsive (and highly irresponsible) views that if women can't deal with it, they should just go remove their womb, start taking birth control, stop their menstruation forever (I suppose he doesn't have kids - does he even deserve one?), get pregnant or marry a rich guy and not have to work. There are so many more disgusting comments - I can't bring myself to scroll down anymore - but you get the picture.
I'm definitely not saying that employers should offer menstruation leave across the board or that it's a woman's entitlement. I certainly do not understand it to be an entitlement (especially since acknowledging it will "put women to shame" lol); instead, it could be perceived to be a thoughtful gesture on the part of the company or a well-meaning opt-in provision in labour law (should it be statutorily provided for, whch is highly unlikely anyway). As for the people talking about how women have lived and worked for thousands of years without complaining or about women who gave birth in the morning and returned to work right after in the same day (sure boh, you want to kill the woman ah) - knock, knock, can you kindly please wake up? Firstly, the state of past affairs do not necessarily justify the maintenance and continuation of that particular state of affairs. Just because such a concept didn't exist in the past does not mean it cannot exist now. Likewise, just because females had limited rights in the past gazillion years doesn't translate into the fact that such a situation should continue. The human mind can develop and progress. We are not a stagnant society (perhaps you are?). And who are you to judge whether the innumerous female generations in the past had made a fuss or not? Perhaps those in the working population were not the ones suffering from such a problem! Moreover, the existence of superwomen mommas who can give birth and go back to work immediately means nothing in this debate (in any case, we all know that some people have easy births and recover more quickly than the rest, so the comparison is invalid).
The discussion would have been much more acceptable if people had chosen to debate the practicality/usefulness/feasibility of such an employment measure instead but no, they just had to go about mocking the women (who do have a need for such a medical leave) as pathetic, immature, stupid, attention-seeking and make light of a serious health issue. They probably don't even know (much less see) how bad menstrual cramps can get. Curling up like a shrimp is not a mere figurative expression - it happens in real life. To describe it as a debilitating (albeit temporary for a few days) condition would not be an exaggeration. Females with bad cramps may be in no condition to walk, they break out in cold sweat, some of them end up puking, some go white in the face and most just have no energy to do anything, save for resting limply on the sofa or bed. Sure enough, the smartass critics will retort, "go see a doctor or take medication!" All I can say is, the doctor is no miracle healer and neither is medication an almighty cure. Painkillers can lessen the pain but it doesn't recharge a weak person with energy (to work, study or whatever not). It is not a battery. It only relieves pain. In addition, as one commentator pointed out, she's allergic to painkillers so she's basically totally out of it for that day/few days. To be very honest, if the derogatory comments only originated from males, I may still be able to understand that they have no experience/knowledge of the condition and excuse them for their loathsome and thoughtless conduct. However, to hear the very same from females just pisses me off to no end. Especially if these are people who have never been at the receiving end of such cramps before - I'm not privy to this information of course, but if it's true that they do not truly understand the extent of pain we're dealing with in this debate, then they should just go ___(beep)___ (insert your choice of words here).
Note: In case you think I have vested interests in this issue - no, you're wrong - but I simply think it's wrong to make fun of the condition while humiliating women (as being weak) for seeing a need for some measure to be put in place (be it an additional day off (outside of the specified legal duration), a work-at-home day or just compassionate leave). Recognising that certain groups of women may require special treatment (not even that special if you think about it - many international firms allow their employees to work from home) does not tilt the scales of equality at all, nor does it make the female gender any weaker. It's basically the same as allowing medical leave for someone down with flu (which is usually less severe than cramps, so why not direct attacks at 'cough/cold/flu' instead and suggest that people remove their lungs/throat/nose). If one can accept medical leave for illnesses like these, I fail to see why they are unable to extend that same generosity/understanding to cramps - just ditch the unattractive label, "menstruation leave". People are probably uncomfortable with the idea of implementing this across the board as a compulsory initiative but hello (你好，有人在家吗?), there were alternatives like working from home (see the word, 'work'? there's still work going on - no one's skiving off). Rather than make fun of women, why not invest the time and effort (and snack on the mean words themselves) into brainstorming possible solutions for working women facing such a problem. If the best they can come up with is the removal of the womb, they don't need children, I suppose. Start by thinking about where in this huge world (of pathetic fools and weak women) they came from in the first place.
That's enough said, I guess.
I rest my case.
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