Empowering Young Girls to Eliminate Period Shame
Society influences our youth whether we like it or not and that influence has a greater gravitational pull when they don’t have the foundation to plant themselves on. This commonly happens with the topic of menstruation. Due to years of silence about the topic, many misconceptions and myths spread, and it often doesn’t get corrected or clarified. Openly talking to girls at a young age about menstruation can make all of the difference and give them that power to correct others and feel confident in themselves and the natural functions of their bodies. Here are some ways you can empower young girls to eliminate period shame:
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1. Normalize the Conversation at Home: It’s important to make the “first-period conversation” an ongoing one. Talking about it once and never again can give young girls a complex about the topic. Checking in and asking if they have any more questions every so often normalizes the conversation in your household. It’s also important for fathers to not shy away from the topic as well. According to research commissioned by THINX, only 31% of American dads feel comfortable talking to their daughters about periods. Seeing an important male figure in their life being knowledgeable about the topic and open to those types of conversations can make all the difference in a young girl’s self-confidence regarding menstruation. It will hopefully allow young girls to ask for help when they need it and feel comfortable talking about menstruation outside of the household.
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2. Ditch the Euphemisms: There are so many euphemisms for the word “period” such as “shark week” and “Bloody Mary.” In fact, there are over 5,000 euphemisms for the word, according to a survey that spanned 190 countries. They are usually used to ease the awkwardness or pain of talking about periods. The conversation should not be considered awkward or painful because it is a beautiful, natural function of the female body. Avoid using these euphemisms around the young ones so they know that the words “period” and “menstruation” are not gross or embarrassing.
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3. Educate, Educate, Educate: One in five parents feels unprepared for their daughter’s first period and 34% feel better prepared after doing more research, according to the study commissioned by THINX. Understanding and learning more about menstrual cycles will help parents answer questions their children may have, but there is also value in learning together. If there is a question that you don’t know the answer to or not sure about, read an article or watch a video together. It shows the child that it’s okay to ask questions and teaches what reliable resources are.
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4. Give Back: Another way to empower young girls regarding menstruation is to get them involved in the fight to end period poverty if you are lucky enough to not be impacted by it. Teach them how lucky they are to have access to period products and not have to choose between practicing good menstrual health and food. Donate period supplies to charities and/or women’s shelters together. Understanding how fortunate they are to have these supplies can help them realize that there is nothing to be ashamed of.
To help end period poverty and period shame, please donate here.
Sources:
· New York Post. (2019). Most parents are uncomfortable talking with their daughters about periods.
· Reuters. (2016). Women use 5,000 euphemisms to ease pain of talking about periods.