Myths and Facts About Menstruation
Menstruation taboos and stigma, which restrict girls and women from leading a normal life or participating in family and school, are severely debilitating and oppressive for women. Stigma combined with lack of access to sanitary products and proper knowledge on managing periods put girls and women at a disadvantage and are contraindicative to achieving gender equality.…
Paid period leaves, lower tampon taxes and free sanitary products: progress on women’s needs around the world
Although positive developments have been made, commitments both from governments and the private sector around the world are necessary to stop considering topics such as menstruations as taboos. Paid period leaves, different taxes on tampons in every country, and a list of places where governments provide free menstrual products, let’s dive into this! …
Menstruation Stigma And Mental Health- A Silent Connection
Menstruation Let us start by defining Menstruation as the periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus, from puberty until menopause. It is a necessary biological function experienced by half of the population. It is similar to other biological functions such as sleeping, breathing, urinating and so on. Menstruation: Stigma And Taboos …
COVID-19 and Period Poverty in Vihiga County
Since the Coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2019, all aspects of life as we knew changed for the worst. Prices of almost everything went up. Most pinching has been the price of basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, education, health and menstrual hygiene management supplies. I know it comes as a shock to many,…
Menstruation Equity: We Can Do Better
The term ‘Menstrual Equity’ is used to describe menstruation as a driver of social and economic inequality resulting from staggering menstruation poverty, taboos, and stigma associated with menstruation. Period Poverty and Stigma: Hundreds of millions of girls and women across the world do not have access to hygienic sanitary products, clean and private toilets or clean…
Maya Vishwakarma: unraveling menstruation stigma in rural India
Maya Vishwakarma, popularly known as the “Padwoman Of India” is on a mission to promote menstrual hygiene and to fight against menstrual stigma in rural India. Her organization ‘Sukarma Foundation’ campaigns at the community level in remote villages about menstrual hygiene and manufactures low-cost sanitary napkins for tribal women in Madhya Pradesh, India. Hailing…
Phionah Musumba, Founder & Executive Director Malkia Foundation
Phionah Musumba is the Founder & Executive Director of Malkia Foundation, a non-governmental organization(NGO) in rural Kenya which helps and empowers underprivileged girls and women. Phionah’s remarkable journey of establishing the Malkia Foundation to help others while she herself was fighting with acute poverty is just phenomenal. We are deeply grateful and honored to be able…
Menstruation Exile in Nepal: A Horrific Example of Menstruation Stigma
In 2019, a woman in Nepal died in the ‘menstruation hut’ with her 2 kids. They died of possible suffocation or carbon monoxide poisoning from the fire they lit to warm the hut in the freezing cold. Women in Nepal are forced to live in animal sheds or secluded huts in inhuman conditions, during menstruation. Chhaupadi or…
