
By Ropafadzo Mutukura
VIVIDLY, I recall the day menstruation brought shame to my whole being. I was in Form 1, and had just finished writing my English language exercise, evidently relaxed, seated in class. As I stood up confidently, going forward to submit my book for marking, I heard a jeering noise behind me. I could not immediately put a finger on it, but then the voices became clearer to me, the huge red spot on my lime green uniform had caused commotion in the classroom. I had to endure the ‘walk of shame’ as I headed for the hostels, my male classmates had clearly made me feel ashamed by their sentiments over my “embarrassing” predicament.
Such has been the stigma that has haunted women for centuries, and still does. One can even argue that even Biblically, the stigmatization of menstruation is documented. The book of Leviticus 15:25 showcases the uncleanliness of a woman during her menstruation. It states that a woman becomes unclean during her time of menstruation and requires isolation. If any non-menstruating person touches anything touched by the menstruating woman, they also become unclean and would require some cleansing.
Stigmatization against menstruating women has been evident throughout the world and in some communities in India and Nepal, a woman cannot sleep inside her own home if she is menstruating. Women have struggled to escape the stigma surrounding a rather natural process which aids in their reproduction. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, menstruation has been portrayed as something that brings shame and should be kept concealed. A group of researchers in 2021 concluded that feelings of stigma and shame encourage the expectation that menstruation should be concealed. Discussions centred on the issue of menstruation have continued to reinforce shame around the issue even in modern societies.
In 2020, Tampax was heavily criticised for their UK campaign which was aired during family-friendly shows, America Has Got Talent for instance. Their advert ‘Tampons and Tea’ explained to women how to correctly use a tampon which roused mixed feelings towards the advert as some felt that the advert was highly inappropriate and a step too far when it comes to the conversation about periods. A lot of people blasted Tampax on Tweeter (now X); however, some believed the advert was beneficial to so many people who, otherwise may be too embarrassed to ask. Tampax had to defend its campaign stating that the company believes in normalising the conversation around periods and this is achievable through awareness, information dissemination and education campaigns.
Stifling open dialogue around menstruation and promoting a rather permeative culture of shame around the subject however affects a lot of women negatively. As we continue to talk about menstruation behind closed doors, a lot of women remain ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices which may result in unfavorable health outcomes. Menstrual education, therefore, is vital as it helps in enlightening adolescent girls and women at large on the issues related to menstrual health and hygiene practices and there is need for a broader platform to aid this. An increased number of educational media programs and a compulsory reproductive health education in school curricula could be of utmost importance.
It has remained unknown to many that hygiene related practices of women during menstruation have an impact on their reproductive health. A growing number of studies have demonstrated a strong and consistent link between poor menstrual hygiene practices and the prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs). These infections include Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Candida and Trichomonas Vaginosis (TV). Amongst other effects, BV is associated with untoward pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term birth and it affects women of reproductive age.
Practices such as the type of absorbent material used, the frequency of changing the material, associated body washing, and the storage of reusable pads characterize menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Using unhygienic absorbent materials, a low frequency in changing the absorbent materials and inadequate body washing during menstruation may have a health impact in terms of increased vulnerability to Reproductive Tract Infections.
RTIs are reported to be a public health concern worldwide and are common in low-income countries. Due to Period poverty, a lot of women are unable to buy menstrual supplies such as pads and underwear forcing them to use unhygienic alternatives which in turn may cause health problems. Period poverty affects a lot of girls and women in Zimbabwe as 1 out of 4 people is multidimensionally poor which is 25.8% of the population and an additional 26.3% of the population is vulnerable to multidimensional poverty according to multidimensional poverty index 2023 from the United Nations Development Programme.
This has prompted many organizations to rise as they seek to eradicate period poverty by donating menstrual supplies and offering menstrual education to the affected population. For instance, Rachel Nyasha who founded Dry and Happy Period believes that eradicating period poverty will help in empowering adolescents to make informed choices, and this also creates a more equitable world for all. Girls In Control, which is a multi-country project, also has an aim to increase school attendance for adolescent schoolgirls through ending period poverty.
However, a lot still must be done to ensure that every woman has access to menstrual education and menstrual supplies. If the world can put a stop to the secrecy and silence that has surrounded menstruation for a long time, successfully tackle period poverty, then those who menstruate will be presented with a future and an environment that empowers them. Menstrual health must be recognised, framed, and addressed as a health and human rights issue according to the call made by the World Health Organization in June 2022 at the 50th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council discussion on menstrual hygiene management, human rights, and gender equality.