25 Women Discuss What Every Girl Should Know But Is Rarely Taught

Updated 4 years ago, October 25 2022
Deep Thoughts

Melanie VanDerveer

1. Period Issues

Magnesium helps with period cramps when taken as a daily vitamin.
Has saved my life on many occasions lol.
mdaws7

2. Many Lessons

Strategies for financial independence, self defense, self love, and assertive communication.
NebulaKat

3. A Time To Be Rude

It’s okay to be rude if someone won’t leave you alone. You don’t owe anyone your time or energy.
Jerkrollatex

4. No Shame In The Test Game

I know I’m late to the party but even if only one person sees this: There is no shame in doing a pregnancy test. In fact, if something is weird with your hormones/body that you haven’t experienced much before, it’s always better to do a test just to be sure. Even if it’s unlikely you are pregnant, if there is any likelihood at all just do the test and be sure.
I heard of it so many times at this point that even fully grown women hesitate (sometimes for weeks!) to do a test and it can land you in hot waters. Besides, it is agony to have that creeping doubt. Every contraceptive can fail and it’s much better to know early and have all the options.
On that same note: Cheap pregnancy tests work exactly the same and are just as effective as expensive pregnancy tests. I keep a multipack of cheap stick tests just to be sure.
Oookulele

5. Your Annual Exam

Ladies when you go for a smear test (or pap smear for my American gals) they “guess” the size of the instrument, the speculum, they need to use on you based on your height.
It’s shouldn’t be painful, you can ask for a smaller one if it hurts. They just don’t offer that info out!
smileylinzi

6. When Size Is Important

How to measure a bra.
bigboobytata

7. Learn to Sew

Honestly, sewing and altering clothes- not for gendered reasons, but because our clothes often times fit irregularly. A size 12 in one brand will fit completely differently from a size 12 in a different brand.
Also, you can learn to sew larger pockets into your pants.
plvmeria

8. Clean Those Makeup Brushes

Clean your make up brushes. Your skin will thank you.
bdp9850

9. Yes or No: It’s Your Choice

Not only do you get to say “no” whenever you want, you also get to say “yes” when you want! Don’t let society teach you that you need to act shy or play games in order to be desirable. As a society, in order to stand our ground that “no” means “no”, women must also be willing to express when it’s a yes.
Sipyloidea

10. You Should Lift

Lifting and working out in general is fantastic for one’s mental health. It’s a great outlet for getting out one’s emotions, it’s great for your body too. Plus as someone with ADHD, it’s amazing because when I lift, my brain is quiet! It’s so zen.
Also to any women out there who are afraid of bulking up, don’t be. That shit takes WORK. Consistency, a solid workout routine, pushing yourself, lots of protein and eating more calories than you burn. If only it was that easy to bulk up and get jacked! It takes a lot of work and dedication. You can absolutely lift weights and become healthy and fit without ever looking like The Rock. (But if you want to be jacked like The Rock, by all means go for it. Just get ready to put in a ton of work and double your grocery budget)
like5or6

11. Taking Care of Everyone

You do not have to take care of everyone around you.
womanitou

12. Dealing With a Flat Tire

How to change a tire.
lariet50

13. A Few Important Lessons

Take action and yourself at first priority. If your gut is telling you that a guy/a group is making you uncomfortable, excuse yourself accordingly and don’t underestimate your gut. If you think your period has started and/or leaked, don’t wait and check. Road trip and need to use the restroom? Due to our lack of water pistols, please stop at a gas station.
Also just a note, your tummy will look different throughout the day. Usually it gets larger and smaller post-meal and from varying gas amounts. It’s OK. They’re made to protect organs, anyway, they don’t have to be as flat as a door.
introverted-void

14. Your Standards

Don’t hold different standards for yourself that you wouldn’t hold for the ones you care about.
ArmadilloTight

15. Anyone Know Anything About The Big Change?

Still waiting for someone to teach me about menopause.
megablocklego

16. Don’t Ignore Them

Lumps in your breasts are not always cancer! Of course get them checked out, but it is COMMON to find cysts in your breasts!
Source: found a lump in my breast, freaked out, searched Google, freaked out more, stewed for months, booked an appointment with my Obgyn only for him to tell me “yeah its a cyst, stop messing with it. It’s common”
Edit: DO NOT STEW FOR MONTHS. GO TO THE DOCTOR ASAP
Jenyweny09

17. Safety First

Your safety is always more important than a man’s feelings. If you feel unsafe, protect yourself first, think about how others may perceive you later.
SemiSweetStrawberry

18. Lactating Milk Stream

Lactating women do not have just one stream of breast milk that comes out of the middle part of the areola.
Egg_Cellent

19. Don’t Assume You’re Safe

Just because there is another female present doesn’t mean you are automatically safe. Women can be predators too.
spamari

20. It’s Acidic For a Reason

Your vaginal discharge is slightly acidic to help kill off bacteria. This is why your underwear may gradually get little holes forming in the gusset.
Edit to say may as many have you pointed out we’re all different and will have different experiences of this, staining etc.
tinyspacewolves

21. Advocate For Yourself

How to negotiate a pay raise, higher salary, etc. too many of us (girls and boys) are not taught how to advocate for ourselves and know our worth to employers.
Pepperspray24

22. It’s Sadly Normal

Miscarriage is normal.
Past_Street_5943

23. Menstrual Woes

That where you are in your menstrual cycle can effect your immune system.
Ovulation = lower immune system. Reasoning for it is to try to promote a pregnancy. Your immune system, basically, knows what’s you and what isnt you and will attack what isnt you. Sperm isnt you. A zygote/embryo is half you, half not you and might get attacked. It’s why your skin may look better while your ovulating and it’s why pregnant women are immunosuppressed.
Period = strong immune system. It may be why you feel like shit before you get your period and why all those pimples pop up. Your body is now fighting off crap that your ovulation period let slip through, including pimples.
We have no control over this. That’s the part that kills me, we have zero control.
RU_screw

24. Made Up Solutions

Thousands of companies exist with the sole purpose of making you feel insecure about some bullshit non-issue, then selling you a made-up ‘solution’.
Don’t give these people your money. Acquire more houseplants instead.
Articulated