The realities of the menstrual cycle are as old as humanity. But the inescapable nature of menstruation—the cycle that allows humans to conceive and bear offspring—has often been cast in mystery, suspicion or outright hostility. While some cultures have treated the menstrual cycle more pragmatically than others, some degree of taboo, shame and an occasional or frequent inability to access necessary hygiene products—or period poverty—is familiar worldwide to most who menstruate. In places where stigmas are most prevalent and an inadequate supply of products most acute, the negative impacts on women and girls are real and meaningful.
Emily Friedman (GHD’25), a second-year student in SFS’s Global Human Development master’s program, is taking steps to break down barriers to discussing menstruation. In the lead-up to a Dignified Menstruation Workshop that she will facilitate for Georgetown students, staff and faculty, Friedman answered some questions about period poverty and why it matters.
What is period poverty?
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management or a combination of these. It affects at least 500 million women and girls globally, preventing them from managing their menstruation with dignity, comfort and safety. This issue extends beyond just the inability to afford sanitary products, encompassing inadequate access to clean water, sanitation facilities and accurate health information. Period poverty can lead to serious health risks, including reproductive and urinary tract infections, as well as social isolation, stress and educational setbacks. It disproportionately affects low-income individuals and exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities.
How do stigmas and cultural taboos attached to menstruation, menstrual blood and personal hygiene practices negatively impact people who menstruate?
Stigmas and cultural taboos surrounding menstruation negatively impact people who menstruate in multiple ways. Stigmas can lead to unsafe practices, social isolation and psychological stress, including shame and depression. Consider menstrual product commercials that use blue liquid to show the absorption. This is a way that stigmatizes period blood in our common culture. These stigmas often result in a lack of accurate information about menstrual health, causing misconceptions and negative attitudes that can motivate shaming, bullying and even gender-based violence.
I spent two years living in rural Nepal. In this community, menstruating individuals are subjected to harmful practices, such as being isolated in small sheds, which can lead to serious health risks. These taboos also create barriers to education and economic opportunities, as many girls miss school or drop out entirely due to inadequate bathrooms to manage menstruation or supplies. The perpetuation of these stigmas denies menstruating individuals their basic human rights and dignity. But it doesn’t only impact women. The entire economy benefits from women’s education. Educated women are more likely to enter the formal workforce, contributing to increased productivity and economic output.
What is the intersectional nature between climate change and menstruation?
Climate change intersects with menstruation in several critical ways. Extreme weather events and natural disasters, which are increasing due to climate change, can disrupt access to menstrual products, clean water and sanitation facilities, exacerbating period poverty. Climate change also disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including women and girls, who often have fewer resources to cope with its impacts. The environmental impact of menstrual products is significant, with an estimated 12 billion disposable menstrual hygiene products utilized annually, contributing to plastic pollution and waste.
Furthermore, recent studies have raised concerns about the presence of toxic metals in tampons from unsustainable agricultural practices that are being used to combat changing climate. Research from UC Berkeley found that tampons from several brands contain metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium. These metals, which can originate from fertilizers used in cotton production, pose potential health risks as the vaginal tissue has a higher absorption rate than other parts of the body. This issue highlights the complex relationship between agricultural practices, climate change and menstrual health.
What’s the key takeaway you hope to impart at a workshop like this?
The key takeaway from this interactive workshop is the importance of recognizing menstrual health as a fundamental public health and human rights issue that intersects with various aspects of life and society. It also exposes non-menstruators to the topics and their own journey of learning about these issues from their sisters, mothers and friends. We are all part of the solution.
It’s crucial to understand that addressing menstrual health is not just about hygiene but about ensuring dignity, equality and overall well-being for all who menstruate. The workshop aims to highlight the need for a holistic, intersectional approach to menstrual health that considers its connections to education, gender equality, environmental justice, economic empowerment, mental health and human rights. By fostering this understanding, we can work towards more inclusive and effective solutions that break down stigmas and improve the lives of menstruating individuals globally.
Why should someone who doesn’t menstruate care about this topic?
Non-menstruating individuals should care about menstrual health because it’s a fundamental human rights issue affecting half the world and impacting gender equality. Addressing menstrual health contributes to achieving broader development goals like education and poverty reduction. By engaging with this topic, non-menstruators can consider their own education on this topic and become allies in breaking stigmas and advocating for menstrual equity. Ultimately, improved menstrual health leads to healthier, more equitable communities for everyone. Involving men and boys is essential to shifting social norms. Their participation fosters supportive environments, improves communication and facilitates gender-equitable decision-making, leading to more effective and sustainable change within families and communities.
