The 28th of May marks Menstrual Hygiene Day. It is a global call to action and advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene for everyone who menstruates. We also aim to:
- break the silence, raise awareness and change negative social norms around menstrual health, and
- engage decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for menstrual health, at global, regional and national levels.
Menstrual health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or poor health concerning the menstrual cycle.
To promote menstrual health and create environments for it to thrive, we need to reframe approaches to thinking about menstruation and the language we use regarding it by making sure that the language we use is inclusive and positively changes perceptions.
Gender inclusivity
A lot of the information available about menstruation uses gendered language. This language can be harmful because it emphasises the false idea that it is only girls and women who menstruate without considering that gender is a spectrum. There are trans men, gender-diverse and non-binary people who menstruate. Some girls and women do not menstruate. Joanna Anagnostou reminds us that using gendered language suggests that menstruation is a qualifier for what makes people ‘real’ girls and women. It suggests that trans men, gender-diverse and non-binary people, are women because they menstruate. And, that there is something abnormal about cisgender (a person whose sense of personal identity or gender aligns with the biological sex they were assigned at birth) girls and women who do not menstruate without consideration of intersex people and the reality that each of our bodies and reproductive systems are unique.
According to the United Nations, gender-inclusive language refers to “speaking and writing in a way that does not discriminate against particular sex or gender identity and does not perpetuate gender stereotypes or binaries. Given the key role of language in shaping cultural and social attitudes, using gender-inclusive language is a powerful way to promote gender equality and eradicate gender bias.”
Positively changing perceptions about menstruation and promoting inclusivity and menstrual health require that we end the idea that only girls and women menstruate. It requires that we take trans men, gender-diverse and non-binary people who menstruate into consideration. It requires a shift from focusing on ‘girls’ and ‘women’ to thinking about people who menstruate holistically.
Ending gendered language and thinking goes beyond just changing how we speak about menstruation. It encourages us to think about the different ways people experience menstruation; how it affects people differently; how menstruation may be a cause of gender dysphoria and discomfort for trans men, gender-diverse and non-binary people; and the different products, facilities, care and support needed to promote menstrual health for all menstruators globally.
Stigma and discrimination
We live in a world where menstruation is covered in stigma, discrimination and misinformation, which often results in menstruators being forced into isolation and feelings of shame. The language used regarding menstruation fuels stigma and discrimination.
Words like ‘menstrual hygiene and ‘sanitary products’ are examples of words that suggest that menstrual blood is dirty, which is a common misconception, and one of the reasons menstruators are often isolated while they are menstruating. We could replace words like menstrual hygiene with menstrual health and sanitary pads or products with menstrual products. This is important because language does not limit our ability to observe the things around us or how we think about them. Rather, it focuses our attention and thoughts on specific aspects. So, positive and affirming language promotes positive perceptions.
Code words
Menstrual stigma and discrimination, along with the misconceptions around menstruation, create secrecy. This ultimately negatively affects menstrual health and is the reason many people do not get the information they need and/or have conversations that are helpful to them in navigating their menstrual cycle.
Irrespective of where you are in the world, we can all probably think of a code word that is typically used to refer to menstruation. Code words and phrases like ‘that time of the month’, code red’, ‘mensies’, ‘Bloody Mary’, ‘the red robot’ etc. are code words used to refer to menstruation.
On the surface, this may seem innocent and playful. However, using code words spreads the idea that we should not speak openly about menstruation and that it should be kept a secret. It encourages menstruators to hide their menstrual products when they are in public. We can’t discuss how our menstrual cycle affects our bodies, moods, and day-to-day activities. It is the source of a lot of unnecessary and burdensome secrecy that menstruators are forced to carry.
Ending shame, stigma and discrimination relies on our speaking openly and frankly about menstruation. We need to call a spade a spade and not a tablespoon. We need to normalise saying menstruation and/or period or whatever it is called in different languages without hiding behind code words.
Language is powerful; it informs how we understand ourselves, think and behave. Language informs cultures, societies, politics, economics, religion and other social phenomena. So, naturally, it will influence and affect menstrual health. We must take seriously the role of language in promoting health and reducing shame, secrecy, stigma, and discrimination. Our language must be inclusive, forward-looking, affirming and informative.