I’m an average 16-year-old woman. I go to school, I enjoy spending time with friends, and approximately every 28 days I begin a new menstrual cycle. What is unaverage about me might be my willingness to admit a normal and healthy fact about my body.

Periods are a highly stigmatized topic. All genders face misinformation and oppression because people are unwilling to discuss a normal and necessary process.

It seems that since fourth grade, when each girl received an opaque bag that had a pad and informational pamphlets to discreetly take with them, we have have been taught that periods are something to hide and not discuss. Consequently, girls easily become ashamed of something that could be a point of pride. When periods are shamed and seen as embarrassing, they learn to not talk about or stand up for their periods.

The “tampon tax” is a perfect example of how stigmatization leads to actual discrimination. According to Fusion, 40 states across the country tax tampons. This tax is not special or in any way different from a state’s normal sales tax. However many, in fact most, of the aforementioned 40 states do not require a sales tax on “necessary” items. What is deemed as necessary varies from state to state, but typical, medical necessities are exempted from any sales taxes.

Tampons, and other similar feminine hygiene products, are not luxury items. These products are necessary and deserve to fall under exemptions.  However, when women are taught to not discuss their period, it can be hard to inspire desire for change. Male legislators either will not see a need to present legislation to correct the unnecessary tax, or feel too embarrassed to discuss the topic. In addition, according to the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics, women make up less than 25% of state legislators, allowing discriminatory taxes stay in place.

Half of the world’s population has menstruated, will menstruate, or is currently menstruating. If the other non-menstruating half of the world has no idea what the process means or entails, then misinformation is spread and harmful stereotypes are perpetuated.

“That time of the month” does not prevent someone from acting rationally. Sure, hormones can fluctuate, but that does not mean that someone has to be a crazy, emotionally unstable person for an entire week.

Hillary Clinton’s ability to serve as president of the United States has been called into question because of the mere possibility that she is a woman who menstruates. The idea that a woman cannot be president because she may lose all sense of reason for one week each month is ridiculous, yet it still persists. This idea also highlights a complete lack of knowledge surrounding women’s health and society’s willingness to be ignorant to women’s health issues.

It’s time to destigmatize menstruation. It’s time to stop hiding your pad or tampon in your sleeve as you walk to the bathroom during lunch. No one should ever feel ashamed to acknowledge the normal and healthy part of life that is menstruation.