Let's break the taboo and discuss menstruation openly
Kersti Strandqvist and Chris Williams say it's time to discuss menstrual cycles openly, to change attitudes that disadvantage women and girls
British tennis professional Heather Watson shocked the sports world last month at the Australian Open when she acknowledged her period. In 2012, women in China raised eyebrows when they criticised a civil service medical examination that asked detailed questions about their menstrual cycles. And in India, a young married couple have created a comic book to educate girls about this natural, healthy bodily function.
Increasingly, brave women (and a few men) are breaking the taboo that prevents honest discussions about menstruation. Now, government and business leaders must lend their voices.
In every country, the veil of silence around menstruation contributes to sexism that can hold women back. A recent survey found that almost eight in 10 Chinese women believe menstruation puts them at a disadvantage in society.
The consequences of this taboo hit hardest in the least developed parts of the world, where silence translates into a lack of services and education for women and girls. In many countries, girls are not taught about menstruation and must manage their periods with dirty cloths, newspaper or clay, with no access to private toilets, water or soap. Sanitary products are unaffordable or simply unavailable. Painful and harmful infections are common.
As a consequence, girls miss valuable days in school, and women are unable to work, stifling their productivity and contributing to women's unequal place in society. Transforming this situation will require new investment and programmes, but first and foremost, women - and men - must speak out.
The global movement to break the silence on menstruation came to China last week as Team SCA, an all-women crew of sailors participating in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, docked in Sanya , Hainan . The team has dedicated the race to the challenges faced by women worldwide, including menstrual hygiene. At many ports, they have participated in menstrual hygiene training sessions for local girls, with support from the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, a UN body. One education session for girls aged 10-12 is being held in Haikou, with support from the Hainan provincial government. This is but one small yet important step.
Eliminating this taboo is an international responsibility, and an opportunity for China to lead. Transforming attitudes and practices will require a wide coalition, in China and beyond. CEOs, national leaders and village elders, women's rights and health advocates, global policymakers, and others, need to put menstruation far higher on the global agenda.
Governments can introduce policies to ensure girls and women have separate, private toilet facilities in schools and at work, access to essential products and the means to dispose of and clean them. Critically - and most difficult - community and national leaders must speak out to change attitudes, upend customs and educate people about periods.
It's high time to make safe, hygienic and private menstruation a global priority, with dedicated advocacy, funding and policies.
