25 Women Discuss What Every Girl Should Know But Is Rarely Taught
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
25. Houseplants Are The Way To Go
This here is solid gold.
My houseplants make me so much happier than trying to conform to random bullshit standards for women ever did.
Foxclaws42