What would you change if you could click your fingers to improve women's health?

If I could click my fingers and solve a problem to improve women's health, I would solve the shame that is put onto women around their periods, bodies, and reproductive hormones.

I would remove the patriarchal disgust raised when women talk about their bodies, feelings, symptoms, and their periods. I would remove the shaming and down trodden view that if a woman is taking charge that she is bossy. These problems that I have mentioned play an integral part to body shaming, diet culture, and mental freedom that women experience affecting their mental health daily.

Being a woman with the ability to carry new life inside us is a thing of wonder and not a thing to shame. Our bodies are beautiful and natural. They are a thing to be celebrated. We are all strong in our own way and should be encouraged to feel empowered to talk about how we feel while being taken seriously. As women, we should have the freedom to do what we want with our own bodies, and not be limited by laws created by a male dominated patriarchal society. The freedom to choose whether we carry a baby or not, or whether we have children at all and not be judged for it.

Illustration by @howdoyoupeel

Our bodies are beautiful, the hormones that run through them are natural, and our moods and feelings are valid.

If I could click my fingers and solve a problem to improve women's health, everyones bodies would be celebrated and everyone would know more about how their bodies worked and what was natural and normal. Our worries would not be dismissed by men and doctors. Our voices would be heard and we would not be medically gaslighted for pain in our pelvic areas. Issues would be acted on quickly and we would feel safer going to the doctor with our worries. Instead of holding back for fear of being disregarded because we have so regularly been ignored before.

I am completing a free course called "Exploring issues in women's health" by The Open University

The question "What would you change if you could click your fingers to improve women's health?" was asked by Dr Sara MacKian and Dr Sharon Mallon in the first module of this course. My answer above came from a place of deep beliefs and strength. I believe as women - this includes transgender women - we should feel celebrated and if others are not doing this for us we can do it for ourselves. People will soon have to fall in line.

Below are some other answers given to this same question:

• If men were magically given periods, they would experience the pain and disruption that these cause and the world is likely to change quite radically for the better as a result.

• In terms of mental health, addressing toxic diet culture and unrealistic expectations in terms of body image would make a major difference to the mental wellbeing of women.

• Appreciating women for who they are, by no longer objectifying them and focusing on how women look – this would be extremely beneficial.

• Improving access to abortion (especially in Northern Ireland) and addressing the stigma attached to abortion.

• Providing affordable treatment options for women who cannot get pregnant.

I highly recommend taking checking out the free courses Open University has to offer there are so many to choose from covering a wide range of topics.

Leave in the comments what would you change if you could click your fingers to improve women's health?

I'd love to hear and start a conversation about it.

Big Love

Georgie xxx