Skip to main content

Why menstruation is taboo and why it shouldn't be.

 

Photo by Vulvani - www.vulvani.com

In 2021 menstruation is still a taboo subject that is not as openly discussed as it should be. In the pandemic we are currently going through, it is especially important to address the shame and stigma associated with menstruation before public life resumes. 

 

Why menstruation is taboo…

 

The taboo of menstruation has developed over generations of cultural stigmas, which unfortunately still perpetuate today. A common widespread belief in many parts of the world is that menstruating women are impure or dirty. In India a surprisingly common belief is that women shouldn’t enter the kitchen as they will contaminate food. In Nepal, although illegal, women are often isolated from the household and made to live in a hut in a practice known as Chhaupadi for the same reason that they are considered impure. This raises concerns for women’s well-being as they can often be subjugated to unsafe living conditions where such practices are still prevalent.

 

Such taboos are harmful and have a discriminatory effect as they only apply to those who menstruate. They make women feel shameful of their period and internalise the belief that they are impure, which is then passed on to their daughters, creating another generation of girls who feel ashamed about their period.

 

Stigma of menstruation is not only a problem in third world or impoverished countries, but also in countries such as the UK. Openly talking about menstruation is a rare occurrence with it usually being referred to by euphemisms such as ‘aunt flo’, or ‘time of the month’. Our reluctance to refer to periods by their name is problematic because this reinforces the idea that periods are not at all conversation-worthy and in fact are embarrassing to talk about. This is illustrated by the fact that not many of us feel we can openly state that we are menstruating. More common are the hushed whispers to a few people and hiding our sanitary products on our way to the bathroom. Sanitary product commercials use a blue liquid to demonstrate their product, which further subconsciously affirms the notion that period blood is something to be ashamed of, whereas bloodshed in films has connotations of patriotism.

 

…and why it shouldn’t be.

 

This needs to change. Menstruation is a biological process experienced by half the population at some point, so it only seems illogical to fear open discussion of it. Women’s issues cannot be resolved if we don’t feel we can talk about them! Period stigma needs to be tackled in an effective way because if it isn’t, it will continue to hold back girls and women. It has a devastating impact on the education of young girls who are likely to miss school to avoid being mocked. The myths and misinformation that feed this stigma need to be debunked but one of the root problems is lack of education and it will take some serious heavy work to reach the point where most women have shame-free periods. 

 

A useful strategy to achieve this end goal is through education and advocacy, which is already being undertaken by many organisations such as Period.org and Binti Period. One thing we can do is support such organisations who advocate for the rejection of menstrual stigma and put pressure on policy makers to implement better reproductive and menstrual health education. One thing is key – this needs to reach everyone! At Freeflow we are committed to providing education on menstrual health to girls in India who otherwise would not be able to access this information. 

 

Let’s end the menstruation taboo by raising our voices to say periods are not shameful. Periods are bloody amazing!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Free Flow Fast Facts: Period Poverty

By Hannah Jackson. Period poverty affects 1 in 10 menstruators in the UK, whilst only 12% of those who experience periods in India have access to safe menstrual products. There are a number of similarities contributing to the figures from the UK and India, such as cultural taboos and shame, high taxation on period products, and a lack of education surrounding menstruation. Period poverty is absolutely grounded in misogyny and economic patriarchy, under which the tampon tax allows for menstrual products to be taxed as a luxury whilst the so called ‘pink tax’ adds more tax to feminine marketed products such as razors. Although the UK has committed to scrapping the 5% tax on period products from 2021, with the economic fallout as a result of the pandemic many charities have reported a surge in people experiencing period poverty; Leeds based charity Freedom4Girls reported 15 times the usual amount of aid being requested since March , and predict this figure will continue to rise. Wi

Sustainable period products to try

  Periods do not need to cost the environment. This blog post will guide you through the different types of sustainable products you can try. With the many options out there, you don’t have to settle for products that you don’t feel comfortable with. See what works for you!     Period Pants   First up we have period pants. They are, as the name indicates, pants you wear while on your period. Although they may look like normal underwear, they work to soak up the menstrual blood into the absorption layer and lock it away, keeping you dry and preventing any leakage onto your clothes. They are designed to replace pads and tampons so you would use them on their own and they may feel more comfortable. They are also perfectly hygienic and can be machine-washed on a delicate or gentle cycle.   Menstrual Cup   Menstrual cups are a very eco-friendly and safe alternative to tampons and pads. A menstrual cup is a soft, flexible cup usually made of medical grade silicone that you insert into your v

Periods and the impact on girls education.

<a href='https://www.freepik.com/vectors/background'>Background vector created by pikisuperstar - www.freepik.com</a> This blog post is dedicated to the International Day of the Girl Child, which takes place every October 11. In addressing challenges faced by girls, an important one to overcome is unequal access to education for the girl child. To achieve a more inclusive educational environment, one of the barriers that needs to be tackled is periods - because menstruation should not be a barrier to education! To illuminate just how periods are currently affecting girls' education around the world, here are some statistics from MHDay ( menstrualhygieneday.org ) : In the United States, 1 out of 4 students have struggled to afford period products. In Pakistan, 3 out of 4 girls don't receive education about menstruation in school. In Bhutan, 1 in 3 girls miss school during menstruation because they're afraid others will make fun of them. In South Africa, 1