#SeeMeeBleed

BREAKING NEWS: people across the globe panic as climate change devastates thousands of cities. Air quality continues to worsen by the year, despite the discontinuation of fossil fuel use. Temperatures will not stop rising, and despite the thousands of corporations vowing to produce only recyclable products, landfills still overflow, destroying the remaining, precious, ecosystems. In a recent environmental study, it was found that the most prominent products in landfills across the globe are menstrual products such as tampons and pads. With the release of the study, major industries such as TAMPAX and KOTEX are sued for marketing non-recyclable materials in a time where there are no more exceptions.

BREAKING NEWS: as several feminine care product companies go bankrupt, women frantically flood local super markets, stocking up on the few remaining boxes of affordable tampons and pads. Meanwhile, there has been a dramatic increase in the use and price of menstrual cups.

BREAKING NEWS: protests break loose in the streets as women fight against the discontinuation of non-recyclable feminine products. The movement, led by professor of women and gender studies, Dr. Erika M’Straul, claims that taking away necessary, femenine products is, “sexist” and a “stunt to blame women for the destruction of our planet.” Across the country, the logo of the movement, a pair tree, supposedly to symbolize strength in femininity, has appeared on buildings, social media and even some clothing brands who have voiced support for the movement. We now go to an exclusive interview with Dr. M’Straul to discuss the movement in more detail.

RICK SMITH (interviewer): “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I would like to welcome a special guest, Dr. Erika M’Straul. Did I pronounce that right? Would you mind if I just called you Erika instead?”

DR. M’STRAUL (interviewee): “I would prefer Dr. M’Straul.”

RICK SMITH: “Okay, Dr. M’Straul, why do you find it so crucial to keep such a wasteful and environmentally damaging product such as tampons in continuation while there are literally dozens of more practical and environmentally friendly options available? Is it simply due to… convenience?”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Well, Rick- may I call you Rick?”

RICK SMITH: “I prefer Mr. Smith.”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Okay. Mr. Smith. Well you see, although I am overjoyed for the women that are able to use menstrual cups, many women find that they leak more often, are uncomfortable, or have seen an increase in yeast infections due to menstrual cups. And, I find it simply absurd that we would even be hav-”

RICK SMITH: “Erika, if I may, my wife uses a menstrual cup and has never once complained to me about such… health issues. Have you thought, perhaps, that such… infections have more to do with personal hygiene than the menstrual cup itself? I mean, they are called hygiene products afterall, no?”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Excuse me? I really don’t think that has anything to do with what I am trying to say, Rick.”

RICK SMITH: “Mr. Smith, if you don’t mind.”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Okay, well you see, Mr. Smith, it’s not a hygiene issue. Some women are more prone to yeast infections than others, and keeping menstrual cups inside of them for too long can cause problems, which is why many women prefer to use products such as pads or tampons. But all of that is aside from the point. We are protesting against being denied sanitary products that are specific to people with menstrual cycles, without which, our lives are made even more difficult. More so, we are protesting against unjust blame for causing climate change placed upon us.”

RICK SMITH: “Well, Erika. It seems to me that you are trying to represent a small portion of women, feeding them lies I might add, in order to promote a movement that is detrimental to our planet. From the looks of it, Erika, the environmental devastation caused by menstrual waste is hardly an issue for you. I might ask… Do you even care about your planet? The well-being of billions of people due to climate change?”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Ric- Mr. Smith. I am a huge support in the fight against environmental degradation. I do nearly all I can as an individual to combat climate change. I drive an electric car, nearly all of the products I buy are reusable, recyclable, or compostab-”

RICK SMITH (under his breath): “Well clearly not all of them.”

DR. M’STRAUL: “Look. Mr. Smith. This is F****ng ridiculous. I cannot believe that in this day and age-”

RICK SMITH: “Excuse me, but with all due respect, Erika, this is a professional environment, and if you’re going to speak to me like that, I refuse to continue this interview. That will be all. Dr… M’Straul.”

BREAKING NEWS: Dr. Erika M’Straul, leader of the movement advocating for the return of menstrual products is chastised after losing her temper in an interview with the acclaimed environmentalist and known feminist, Rick Smith. Dr. Erika M’Straul now faces backlash for being “anti-climate change,” some going as far as to call her, “anti-women-who-use-menstraul-cups.”

Meanwhile, the hashtag, “#seemebleed,” accompanied by pictures of women proudly bleeding through white clothing, trends on twitter.