Period Perceptions: Busting the Stigma
This term is often used to describe the taboo or discomfort around discussing menstruation.
What is "period stigma"?`
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to these essential items.
What are period products?
The average length of a menstrual cycle is approximately this many days.
What is 28 days?
Before the widespread use of adhesive pads, this device was commonly used to hold menstrual pads in place during the mid-20th century.
What is the sanitary belt?
In some cultures, menstruating individuals are prohibited from entering these places of worship due to beliefs about impurity.
What are temples?
This stigma-fueled stereotype wrongly suggests that women are overly emotional or irrational due to hormonal changes during their period.
What is the 'moody' or 'hormonal' stereotype?
This type of menstrual product can be sewn and helps end period poverty for more than 7 years.
What are reusable pads?
This phase of the menstrual cycle occurs when the uterine lining is shed.
What is menstruation?
This invention, now a common period product, was first patented by Dr. Earle Haas in 1931.
What is the tampon?
This Canadian province has declared menstrual products free for high school students.
What is Ontario?
Contrary to this myth, women do not 'sync up' their menstrual cycles when they spend a lot of time together; science has debunked this idea.
What is menstrual synchrony?
The "pink tax" refers to this unfair pricing practice, which affects the affordability of period products.
What is the gender-based pricing of products?
This hormone is primarily responsible for the thickening of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle.
What is estrogen?
Before the invention of modern period products, women in ancient Egypt used this plant material as an early form of menstrual protection.
What is softened papyrus?
In this country, it is a traditional practice to hold a celebration for a girl’s first period.
What is India?
This widespread practice of hiding period products in public, out of fear of judgment, reflects societal shame rather than necessity.
What is the concealment of period products?
This term describes the phenomenon where girls miss school due to their inability to afford period products.
What is "menstrual absenteeism"?
This gland in the brain regulates the menstrual cycle by controlling the release of hormones from the ovaries.
What is the pituitary gland?
This reusable menstrual product, which is gaining popularity today, was first introduced in the late 1930s as an eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons.
What is the menstrual cup?
This country recently became the first to offer free period products to all women.
What is Scotland?
This initiative or movement aims to normalize conversations about menstruation and fight against the stigma by educating and empowering people.
What is the period positivity movement?
This initiative by a global organization aims to ensure universal access to menstrual hygiene by 2030.
What is the United Nations' Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) program?
This condition, characterized by extremely painful periods, affects up to 10% of menstruating women (WHO, 2023).
What is endometriosis?
This ancient civilization is known to have used wool as an absorbent material for menstrual care.
What is ancient Greece?
In this East Asian country, women traditionally observe "period leave" as part of their labor rights.
What is Japan?