It's not always PMS

To many, the universal definition of a good woman has been one who is tamed, gentle and calm. But the one time you are pushed to your limits and all hell breaks loose, you're probably thought to be PMS-ing. 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that occur in the one to two weeks prior to a woman's menstruation. Yes, women do experience mood swings. However, the idea that the mood of women can be attributed wrongly to some hormonal flux at the whim of our reproductive system is quite insulting, especially when it is because of our stressful lives.

Imagine a day when you're late to class because you were awake the previous night making a Powerpoint presentation and the next moment you learn Trump is the new president and boom! You can hardly make it through the next 40 minutes. When you yell back at someone's misogynist remark, you're the one at fault as your reaction is presumed to because "women are complicated". They have understood science finally!

When a woman is upset, it's still often one of the first thoughts people have - maybe she's PMS-ing - rather than "Is her physical health okay? Is she under a lot of stress?" Such erroneous presumption is often an excuse to not deal with the issue about which anger is being expressed. 

People on social media have connected women's attitude with PMSing through memes and it makes our lives seem revolving around questions like, "Did the supermoon rise because you don't love me? Am I fat? I am sorry. I want ice cream". Give me a break! 

I have arrived late to parties and seen aunties eye me like I am at that point of the month. Seriously? You should see me crawling up to my bed every night with potato chips and a jar of Nutella at 3 A.M. But of course, we all know about that guy who is going to smirk with the know-it-all attitude because you were seen eating green mango pickles after school.

Every time I want do something that's unusual to my characteristics like wearing an extra-feminine floral dress will be deemed as something that I will only do during a specific time of the month. Don't feel like doing something because I'd rather stay in and have some time to myself? PMS-ing. When I'm tired of adulating duties, I'd snuggle in an old blanket with an extra large Snickers bar and want to be pampered.

There are days when I wake up pissed-off, when everything is intolerable, and I spill tea on my jeggings or because Snape died, I'm like, am I actually a sane person? What is wrong with me? And then, just when I'm about to start crying about being a crazy person who cries about fictional characters, I am labelled!

Women don't always lose their minds when they have PMS-related irritability. Does it lower our mood? Well, sometimes. Do they make it impossible for us to make rational decisions? Of course not. Now that I have made it clear, let me grab the Nutella jar for now. 

Myat Moe is an occasional philosopher whose favourite pastime is confusing people with her nationality. Reach her @145michelle@gmail.com