‘Di Kwentong Barbero; Kwentong Babae: Saksi ng Men-ananggal | Brianah Dela Cruz | TEDxMHPNHS Youth

Key Concepts:

• Menstruation as a process of renewal, health, strength, and survival.
• The role of media and advertising in perpetuating menstrual stigma for profit.
• Menstruation portrayed as impurity or a curse in various cultures.
• Historical demonization of women, particularly healers and those with knowledge.
• Reclaiming women's stories and experiences, viewing menstruation as a source of empowerment.
• The "Manananggal" as a metaphor for societal views of women and their experiences.
• "Babaylan" as pre-colonial Filipina spiritual healers and leaders.

1. The Stigma Surrounding Menstruation:

• The speaker challenges the audience to reflect on their initial reactions to open discussions about menstruation, highlighting potential feelings of shame or discomfort.
• She references Kate Clancy's "The Real Story of Menstruation," which reframes menstruation as a sign of health and renewal, questioning why it is often shrouded in shame.
• Commercials are criticized for promoting stigma and unrealistic portrayals of menstruation, using confusing metaphors (e.g., blue liquid) and perpetuating the idea that periods should be kept hidden.
• The speaker argues that the evolution of menstrual products is driven by profit, with thinner pads potentially contributing to increased shame.

2. Cultural and Historical Perspectives:

• Menstruation is portrayed as a form of impurity or a curse in various cultures around the world.
• Women are often labeled as "hysterical," "needy," or "too emotional" during their periods.
• The "Manananggal," a mythical creature in Filipino folklore, is used as a metaphor. Its split body represents how society seeks to separate women from their real experiences, with the wings symbolizing menstrual products and the abandoned half representing womanhood left behind.
• In pre-colonial Philippines, women were prominent healers and leaders ("Babaylan"), and menstruation was seen as sacred.

3. Reclaiming Women's Stories and Empowerment:

• The speaker encourages women to reclaim their stories and challenge the media's portrayal of menstruation as something shameful.
• She emphasizes that menstruation is a shared experience that should be a source of empowerment.
• The speaker references the historical demonization of women, particularly healers and those with knowledge, drawing a parallel to the silencing of women's voices today.
• She urges women to speak loudly and proudly about their experiences, challenging the "true Manananggal" – those who create fear and control.

4. Historical Context and the Role of Women:

• Theologians historically expanded the biblical curse of Eve to include menstruation, portraying menstrual blood as foul and potentially harmful.
• This contributed to the marginalization of women and their exclusion from wage work.
• The speaker highlights the shift of medicine from a female-dominated field to a male-dominated one.
• The "Babaylan" are presented as examples of powerful women in pre-colonial Philippines who were both purposeful and afraid, finding empowerment in their vulnerability.

5. Conclusion:

• The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of remembering the stories of women who came before and taking responsibility for shaping the future of menstruation.
• She calls for women to persist, speak out, and challenge the forces that seek to silence and control them.
• The speaker contrasts the recognition of "Manananggal" in history with the continued demonization of women, arguing that women should be honored, not demonized.

Notable Quotes:

• "Menstruation is a process of renewal, a sign of health, strength, and survival why then should it be shrouded in shame."
• "The thinner the pad, the thicker the shame."
• "We carry with us the power of those who came before us and the responsibility of to shape the future of menstruation."
• "In the past they never killed witches they killed women with knowledge with stories to tell."

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Menstruation: The monthly shedding of the uterine lining in women.
• Stigma: A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
• Manananggal: A mythical creature in Filipino folklore, used as a metaphor for societal views of women.
• Babaylan: Pre-colonial Filipina spiritual healers and leaders.
• Kate Clancy's "The Real Story of Menstruation": A book that reframes menstruation as a sign of health and renewal.

Logical Connections:

• The speaker begins by challenging the audience's preconceived notions about menstruation.
• She then explores the historical and cultural context of menstrual stigma.
• The "Manananggal" metaphor is used to illustrate how society often views women and their experiences.
• The speaker highlights the importance of reclaiming women's stories and empowering them to speak out.
• She concludes by calling for action and urging women to shape the future of menstruation.