Menstruation is one of the leading causes of girls' around the world missing out on a full education. Myths and taboos surrounding the natural biological process serve as extremely detrimental.
Around the world, girls in third world countries are struggling and fighting for a means to receive a full quality education. They face barriers unfair to humankind, brought upon by their own natural biological process of menstruation. Sexist ideologies placing their worth below their male counterparts’, as well as devastating myths fencing them in both psychologically and physically from reaching their full intellectual capacity, set them at an extreme disadvantage.
Where does this drawback actually stem from? Despite the irony, a lack of education.
The ongoing presence of poor menstrual education ultimately feeds into the downfall of girls’ access to a full education globally. Lack of government funding and priority, in nations such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Africa, buds from a wide scale neglect of understanding.
Photo from Malala Fund
Devastating myths of menstruation being dirty, an indication for marriage, and shameful, allow for these governments to get away with social negligence and financial abandonment towards young girls universally. As seen in Ethiopia, the government’s neglect to put forth a “menstruation education curriculum” has allowed for taboos and stigmas to serve as the only source of information being fed to these young girls about their own menstrual cycle. This is extremely harmful, as what is being taught is not true and psychologically damaging. Further, as societal perception remains veiled behind ostracism, seclusion, and banishment, government funding aligns in unison, leaving victims to fend for themselves at the cost of their mental well-being and educational opportunity.
As stated by period poverty activist Amika George, “800 million girls around the world miss school for a week every single month and, yet, no one was trying to solve this huge problem that shouldn’t be a problem.” Putting this into perspective, according to another study, one in four girls struggles with a lack of menstrual products. Further, also shared by George, those who choose to still go to school often have to utilize unsanitary alternatives, such as socks, newspapers, and toilet paper. The absence of menstrual education impacts a large majority of female youth in a negative way that also, silently, targets society.
If all girls were to receive a good quality, 12-year education, according to Malala Fund, the benefits that would be reaped include a boost of $30 trillion to the global economy, a creation of jobs, slowing the effects of climate change, reducing poverty, and cutting “the risk of war in half in developing countries.”
Are we to ignore this detrimental issue running rampant throughout the world, especially throughout third-world countries? Are we to do nothing but merely sympathize from the comfort of our own home, where sanitary pads are stuffed in our bathroom cabinet, ready at any given moment to be packed for school? What about the psychological warfare being created in these girls’ minds between their natural biological functions and clouded misconceptions?
Support of these young girls is the best way for us to aid in the placement of menstrual education, thus creating a waterfall effect to the reversal of stigmas and governmental negligence. Through self-conducted research on menstrual activism, reinstituting normalcy against harmful taboos, relaying affirmations on the naturality of menstruation, and conducting charity work towards organizations focused upon this cause, we can further spread awareness and information on menstruation, as well as the importance of menstrual hygiene funding for low-income families, globally.
Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook serve as an excellent mechanism for posting vital information and updating viewers on the importance of this issue. I, myself, created an Instagram account (@fairfieldmakesanimpact) where I posted educational content on the severity of the cause and how to donate to my fundraiser. There are also multiple organizations present to work with in the support of these young girls.
You may choose, for example, to lend your assistance to the organization Alliance for Period Supplies, where you can either donate directly through their website, create your own fundraiser or drive by following their guidelines, or “join their alliance” through the creation of your own program. You may also choose, as I did, to donate directly to or sign petitions for Malala Fund, where your proceeds will benefit their Education Champion Network.
An even simpler way to work on reinstating the true narrative surrounding menstruation and the importance of putting an end to period poverty is sharing the stories of girls who have utilized their education in a highly impactful way. As shared by Malala Yousafzai in an interview with George, when more people see for themselves what “educated girls can do,” it helps normalize and affirm girls’ capabilities and “why education is so valuable.”
It is truly heartbreaking, what millions of girls have to face each day. We must not stop advocating for these young girls until the forced choice of utilizing a sock in replacement of a sanitary pad or attending school has completely vanished.
Just imagine what a free supply of menstrual products, similar to that of toilet paper in school facilities, would do.