Periods,and boobs

About two weeks ago, I learnt about this photographer named Rupi Kaur who posted a photographer to IG with a woman lying in bed with a period stain. IG deleted the image twice because it was deemed as inappropriate. At first, I was bothered by the idea that this woman would in fact want to capture a photo of her bloody stained behind and bed. As someone who also gets a monthly visit I just didn't understand the reason for posting. However, as I think more about the image, and the portrayal of women in the media, that in a way the media has painted a single story for womanhood. This reminds me of Chimamanda Ngozi's tedtalk the danger's of a single story. Now, grant the media actually has a few story lines for women such as the slut, good girl gone bad, the ugly fat chick, the superwoman, the nice girl who is too nice,  etc etc etc. This is not the single story I am referring too. When it comes to learning about how the female body works in the media, we only look at it at a sexual view. Women can be photographed in their underwear as long as they are selling sex--which is very ironic considering that society at-large does not appreciate or perhaps even value sexually liberated women. Nonetheless, the media is okay with selling the single story of objectifying women. Women are taught to feel embarrassed about something that is so natural. Periods are a fact of life. Yet,  many girls and women still believe a tampon can take her their own virginities because periods are seen as too taboo to discuss them.

Then there are the nipples. Women are taught to cover them up. Some girls, depending on their age, are embarrassed about their boobies. This might be because they are too big, and may cause them to look "sluttish" and bring them unwarranted attention. Others may be embarrassed because they are not big enough, and may cause them to look "boyish". What ever the reason, the idea of women celebrating her boobs seems taboo. Yet, men can "celebrate" (which is really them objectifying their boys, celebrated is said sarcastically) a woman's boobs and nipples, and that is just him being a boy. And take for example the breast cancer campaign Save the Boobs. Save the Boobs is suppose to end the battle against breast cancer, but what are people more concerned with? Saving the boobs or saving the woman with breast cancer?

This is just some food for your thought. In honor of creating more story lines of the female body in a non-sexually objectified way I've posted some images that I found on Google (plus some of  Rupi's work). If you are offended by these photos then oh well. This is real life, and the real experiences of many women.