The Politics of Comfort
Jane H.Here’s a concept for you - comfort is political.
I’m not actually saying your choice of couch or mattress or sweatpants is political (although it might, depending on the supply chain and environmental impact of your choice). I’m talking about the actual experience of comfort, and how choosing to be comfortable is a radical act of political self-love.
Who gets to be comfortable in this world? Short answer: those who benefit from the power structures that dictate how our world works. It’s uncomfortable to be the odd one out; the only person of colour in the room, to find out that the dress isn’t made in your size, to be in the room when your boss makes the sexist joke, to live in a closet. Comfort is a privilege, and when you don’t have it, the world will never let you forget it. I think this is why checking your privilege feels so threatening - the ease you took for granted is suddenly gone.
Comfort is a big part of what we try to do here at Lunapads, along with other values like sustainability, authenticity and unabashed feminism. Why? It’s because we believe in the political power of feeling comfortable in your body by making personal care choices that feel good for you. We work in an industry that sells products that are laden in shame; that tell you your body is wrong or dirty. We’re obsessed with making menstruation invisible but cannot provide sufficient products for everyone to have a dignified period. We erase the menstruation of trans and nonbinary folks. We create mountains of trash to manage the cultural belief that periods are gross and need to be hidden away. To have a good period - to make space for your period and do it on your own terms - is a decision to assert your right to comfort.
So, let’s think through how we can make things more comfortable. Start by making the world more comfortable for others. Give space where you need to. Don’t misgender people, and apologize quickly if you do. Take an anti-racism workshop. Read a book or watch a movie that centres a worldview other than your own. Consider if you are perpetuating ableism, through your language or environment. It can be awful to spend time considering how you benefit from privileges that prioritize your comfort over others. Do it anyway.
And once you’re done, don’t be afraid to consider your own comfort. You don’t owe the world performance or productivity - resting is a powerful if underappreciated form of resistance. Take a sick day if you need it. Book that vacation. Wear clothes that make you feel good. Take time to relax and do things you love. And, yes, have a comfortable period - make enough space for your menstruation. Don’t be ashamed of it. Your body is amazing.
We all have a right to be comfortable, and we can all learn a lot by getting uncomfortable. However, we can use comfort to be transformative and powerful. When we support each other, we can make each other feel more comfortable and more empowered. Embrace the political power of your comfort. It can tell you more than you know.
