Period shaming is a deeply rooted form of misogyny. Some weeks ago I watched a video where a Nigerian Pastor tried to shame women for menstruating. I say 'tried' because he didn't/can't suceed in shaming women.

One would think he should know better as a clergy but even wisdom is far from him. He said prophetesses are possessed by demons and implied that women should not be religious leaders . When men like him speak, they believe they are untouchable and infallible, so they keep blabbing about things they do not understand or know anything about. He tried to make fun of female pastors changing pads and then coming back to lay hands on men. Like it something to be ashamed of? Like it's a crime for women to lay hands on men and changing pads makes us disadvantaged. Like women are incapable of deep spirituality.

One thing people like him should understand is that "menstruation cannot and will never reduce women". What happens to and in our bodies will never lessen us. He aims to propagate women as unworthy ministers of God but no matter how much he wants the world to follow this path, we(read as women) will continue carving niches for ourselves in different spheres of life, including the religous. He cannot change it! Him no fit.

It is pitiful a man birthed by a woman who menstruated is saying this to a congregation that has mostly female members. The disgusting fact about this is, that most of these women will continue to come to his church. They saw nothing wrong with what he said. The very few that did won't be bold enough to leave, at the end of the day the probable 0.1 % might leave. Yes, many Nigerian women have what is called individualised misogyny, that's why the above happens. How can a pastor try to shame women for something as natural as menstruation? How low can he go? It is improper to be ashamed of menstruating as a woman. You experience, dysmenorrhea then bleed for 3-7 days every month and walk through the challenges of this world like the god you are and someone out there thinks he can reduce you to dust? Impossible!

This is one of the many things I advocate against but a man who says he is called by God is preaching against female pastors.When I teach young girls, I tell them never to feel awkward about issues that relate to their s£xual and reproductive health or womanhood in general. If you want to buy a sanitary towel walk into a shop with heads high and say "I want (a named brand) sanitary pad". It doesn't matter who is there looking, pay for it and leave as confidently as you came in. Don't hide or wait till everyone is gone before you make your request. If you are in public and the need arises to talk about women's issues speak confidently about it, after all, it is what you and other females experience in the world. As a girl child demystify shame in your life, it will do you great good.

Imagine unaware girls listening to this man's preaching, what would become of them? They may end up believing their periods are a limitation in their lives and that there is no point in striving for their dreams.