Why Women's Health?

Why women’s health, you may ask? What could possibly be so intriguing about learning about how a woman’s body works? There are many reasons as to why I chose this topic, but the biggest reason is the serious lack of resources and knowledge on this topic. Many studies have been conducted on other diseases, and solutions have been found. Not for women’s health issues, though. Endometriosis and PCOS are very common for women to get along with their periods, with painful cramps, hormonal issues, and other crucial side effects that affect daily life. Approximately 10% of matured women have each of these conditions, which may not seem like a lot, but it’s enough to affect a large group of people.

Many family members and friends have experienced so many issues with their health and menstrual cycle, and I’ve witnessed them go through struggles for years. Girls are getting their periods in elementary school now, because of how we’ve evolved. Even though more and more people are going through the same issues every day, people are ashamed to raise their voice and help these little girls.

One core memory I have from middle school was when we had a health presentation in sixth grade. They had to separate the boys and the girls, which resulted in many looks and gasps, because everyone knew what the talk was going to be about. The girls had to learn about periods, and when it came to questions, people were afraid to speak up. No one felt comfortable talking about it, even in a room full of women. The couple people who did asked questions that are only myths, showing how much we actually get educated.

Walking out of that room everyone started gagging and acting like they lost their appetite—just because they saw a couple diagrams. None of us knew how to react, so we tried to make the situation light by joking around about it. People got embarrassed, and conversations were short.

Outside of school too, it’s not normalized to talk about periods or cramps, and going to the store to buy products is seen as embarrassing. That is my why. I want girls to feel like they are in a safe space to ask questions, learn more, and feel comfortable in their own body. Experiencing these things myself and being put in these situations opened my eyes to a whole new world where everything wasn’t perfect. I created ARTEMISS to help girls like my younger self feel like they belong in this crazy world that we have made for ourselves today.