What makes a good ecologist?

This is a question I ask myself quite regularly, actually. I wonder if, by trying to be as green as possible, the fact that I still use tampons makes me a bad person environmentalist. Indeed, for now, women are made to feel very guilty about their behavior. Between natural contraception and our periods, I mean, we need to be left alone a bit.

Sometimes, and I understand why, we want the world to change, to pollute less, and also to pollute ourselves less. But is constant hammering the solution? For example, I don't constantly say that it's better to wear cotton underwear than synthetic for your well-being. No, I don't. Even though we ourselves know that cotton underwear is much better. But anyway, that's not the point.

The point is that today I'm told that it's wrong not to use natural period products. In fact, I already feel quite uncomfortable with this scrutiny of my uterus, but after all, that's society. The discussions around menstrual cups are quite flattering. I had one. I never got on with it. Each time I tell myself to try again. I can't do it. Because the argument, in addition to being ecological, is that you feel better in your body when you have your period, that you are more of a woman. I've read tons of forums/blogs where women claim to wear a cup. Do I claim to wear a tampon? No. So let's stop. I tried the cup for many reasons, I stopped using it for many more reasons. The first that comes to mind is leaks. "Yes, but that's because you're inserting it incorrectly." I have my period, I'm not in the habit of fiddling with my vagina, so yeah, probably. No, but you can also feel like a woman. Someone really needs to explain that sentence to me. Because no matter how I twist and turn it, I don't understand it. And watch out for my favorite: "No, but with it, you don't smell bad." Whoa, whoa, whoa, does a tampon make us smell bad? No. Next.

To finish on periods, I was also told about washable sanitary pads. Well, I am tolerant and respectful. So I understand that some women need to see their blood (yes, we could discuss it from an analytical point of view, but let's avoid that). But seriously, in 2014, why do that to ourselves? Okay, organic cotton, blah blah blah. But why? And washing them in the machine with our other laundry. I am absolutely not ready for that. Not at all, in fact. And yet it really works a lot.

Next, and this is the last point of guilt-tripping, is contraception. So yes, we are young and active. We protect ourselves (because we are not stupid) but why tell us that we need to practice natural contraception, listen to our bodies, know when we can or cannot get pregnant, know if we are ovulating… Etc… Etc…

I mean, without a feminist discourse or anything, because that's not the case, at what point do we say, yes, okay, let's go back 50 years. What's the deal? And here too, articles are multiplying. The pill is not necessarily the solution, I know that. I stop and restart it quite regularly. I wanted to get an IUD, but my nice gynecologist explained to me that yes, but no, I don't have children. No, because this type of contraception is often offered to us by ladies who go to the gynecologist… So there you have it. But seriously, my question is, does it work better? Do you not get pregnant, do you not catch STIs? (The real questions, you know)

Anyway, all this to say. We do what we want with our bodies. And that doesn't mean I'm not environmentally conscious. I'll take testimonials, however, if you think I'm completely off base!