How Discussing Periods with Boys Can Help End Period Poverty & Period Shaming

A 2018 survey commissioned by THINX, a company that provides innovative period solutions such as period-proof underwear, found that out of 1,500 women across the country 42% of them have experienced period shaming. One in five of the women were made to feel shamed due to comments made by a male friend. Out of the 500 men that were surveyed 44% have admitted to making jokes about or commenting on a partner’s mood when she was on her period. To make matters worse, 51% of the men studied believe that women openly mentioning their menstrual cycles in the workplace is inappropriate.

When looking into the situation and the research more closely, you realize that men cracking insensitive jokes and making women feel shame about their periods is mostly due to their lack of knowledge about the topic. Unfortunately, period poverty and period shaming are a result of ignorance. According to research conducted by betty, boys between the ages of 11 and 16 felt that school lessons on periods and puberty were ‘awkward and embarrassing’, and they’re anxious about discussing menstruation with girls in fear of getting something wrong. Obviously, most school lessons are not adequate enough to delve into normalizing periods and the topic of menstrual equality.

Including boys in the conversation at a young age and openly talking to them about the most natural function of the female body will most likely clear up any harming misconceptions and cause more empathy. Share some positive messages about periods with your son to combat the negative messages being spread from the media, their friends and society. Sex Ed Rescue shares a lot of tips and suggestions on how to explain periods to sons.

Women are not the only people that can teach young ones about menstruation. In fact, many young girls and boys are raised by single fathers. Girls raised by single fathers who do not have proper knowledge regarding menstruation run the risk of not having the necessary information to deal with their periods or period poverty. A lack of communication about periods with children will further suppress girls through stigma and shame. The less comfortable girls feel talking about their periods, the less comfortable they will feel to ask for menstrual products when they need it and choose to skip school instead.

The hope of boys joining the conversation at a young age is that as they grow older, they continue to stand side by side with women and advocate for menstrual equality. The hope is that they will call out other men who make insensitive jokes. The hope is that they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable buying menstrual products for their loved ones. The hope is that the more people who are educated, the more menstrual products will be considered as essential as food, medicine and bandages, not something embarrassing that girls use for a gross reason. It is a natural, beautiful function that is the reason humanity exists.

To help end period poverty, please donate here.

Sources:

· Each Other. (2018). Period Poverty Is A Men’s Issue Too: Here’s Why

https://eachother.org.uk/period-poverty-men/

· THINX. (2018). How You Can Overcome Period Shame.

https://www.shethinx.com/blogs/thinx-womens-health/overcome-period-shame-swns-infographic

· Scary Mommy. (2018). Why We Need To Talk To Our Suns About Women’s Periods, And How To Do It.

https://www.scarymommy.com/teaching-sons-about-menstruation/

· Sex Ed Rescue. How to start explaining periods to your son.

https://sexedrescue.com/explaining-periods-to-your-son/

· Metro. (2017). Boys need to be taught about periods, too

https://metro.co.uk/2017/04/19/boys-need-to-be-taught-about-periods-too-6584513/