PERIOD - a Taboo TOPIC
what is it?
The social stigma around period exists all over the word and it is very present in menstruating people’s lives. Periods are considered to be dirty and the people on them unstable. As a result of stigma those menstruating are often ashamed to speak about it and ashamed to visibly take care of their menstrual needs. In 2017 Plan International UK surveyed 14-21 aged women, the study showed that 48% of girls feel embarrassed by their period and 1 in 7 girls have received comments about their hygiene, rising to 1 in 4 with 19-year-olds.
why does it exist?
Period stigma has deep historical, religious, and cultural roots. It has existed for a long time, reaching even to ancient Greece where they used to believe that if someone’s period was late their blood could gather up and reach the heart, which would make the uterus travel around the body and cause erratic behavior and depression. Later, ‘hysteria’ (19th/20th century ‘emotion’ illness diagnosed only in women) was named after the Greek word ‘hystera’ meaning uterus.
In many religions including but not limited to, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism period has been perceived as something impure. Women who were on their period were often considered as not only dirty but also sinful. In the Bible menstruation is perceived as a punishment put on Eve for not obeying God’s orders. Even nowadays in some households people aren’t allowed to touch food or enter places of worship when menstruating. In parts of Nepal it is a norm to practice chhaupadi, which is a custom where women are not allowed to participate in normal family activities and are forced to live in cattle sheds during their period. 48% of girls in Iran, 10% in India and 7% in Afghanistan believe that menstruation is a disease.
Media:
Media also plays a huge role in creating and strengthening period stigma. For ages different advertisements were pushing the idea of period being something to hide, even naming their brands like ‘Whisper’ or ‘Discreet’. Adverts often contain language that suggests that women have a moral responsibility to deal with their period in a certain way (quietly and discreetly) and that not doing so is a failing that can result in judgement and shame. This narrative not only promotes false information and strengthens the stigma but it also gives opportunity for many companies to create and sell products that are not needed. For example, the variety of containers for period products that exist only to hide the fact you are menstruating, so you can freely go to the bathroom without worrying that anyone finds out you’re on your period. It’s understandable that people now feel the need to use these but there was never any real need for them to exist.
Bad education:
Sex and health education in schools and outside of them is far from perfect. As a result, peoples’ knowledge of their body and the menstruation cycle is very limited. For many their first period becomes a traumatic experience, when they do not understand what is happening to them and, as it is something that isn’t talked about, there often isn’t anyone they could turn to. 1 in 4 girls aged 14-21 said they didn’t know what to do when they first got their period (Plan International UK, 2017); 44.5% of disabled people never received sex education at school (Leonard Cheshire Disability, 2010[HS(1] ). This often means that these issues are exacerbated for those with disabilities.
Learning about the cycle is as important for those who menstruate as it is for those who do not. The uneasiness people feel when discussing menstruation with people who do not experience it comes in a huge part from the separation and lack of clear communication. Unfortunately, sex education classes are often separated along gender lines. The information boys and girls[HS(2] receive then differs, with only girls learning about period, with boys often never learning basic information about something that impacts half the population. A good example of this is what happened to Sally Ride. She was the first American woman to go to space and also the first woman to receive 100 tampons from the NASA, with a question whether it will last her for a week.
Appropriate and accurate language and imagery:
When talking about periods/menstruation the language we use can have a dramatic impact. By using appropriate and accurate language we can help reduce stigma and misunderstanding. On the other hand using language that is inaccurate can perpetuate harmful misinformation and stereotypes. Even the word ‘period’ is an euphemism for ‘menstruation’. We often use code names without realising it.
The first step to destigmatising the topic could be using direct, and not secretive language. You can do this by changing the language you use your self, or by buying products and supporting campaigns that do the same. A good example of a campaign that is attempting to destigmatize periods is the ‘we don’t bleed blue’ campaign that criticised advertisements that would present their products absorbing a blue liquid instead of showing what the products are actually made for absorbing- red blood.
Changing the culture is a long process and we shouldn’t be forcing anyone to stop describing what they go through however they want but we can all try to be more direct and open. We can all lobby for the companies and advertisers to do so.
To help with this here’s and article about the language we use and what changes organisations and individuals can make to help with destigmatization:
Call a period a period: Exploring the language and knowledge of menstruation - Sanitation Learning Hub