Spreading Period Positivity: Embrace Your Cycle for Better Reproductive Health

This is a major problem for all women worldwide since it not only makes menstruating women uncomfortable and nervous but it also leads to a lack of awareness and resources about women's reproductive health.

We will discuss the importance of period positivity, its advantages, and how it may help create a better future for everybody.

What is period positivity?

Period positivity is the voice of every woman that’s been suppressed for years. It is a campaign that helps every woman to raise their voices to protect their right to reproductive health. Period positivity is all about breaking down the period taboo and encouraging a more open and inclusive conversation about periods.

Chella Quint, comedian, author, and education researcher, invented the term "period positivity" as part of the Period Positive campaign. Chella created the word to promote menstrual literacy via sexual health education and initiate inclusive menstrual awareness and policy measures.

How can period positivity overcome the period stigma?

Period stigma refers to the discrimination and poor social norms experienced by menstruating women. Rather than being recognized as a normal biological process that affects over 800 million women of reproductive age each month, it has become a taboo or unpleasant topic of conversation. We need proper medical care for women's reproductive health.

However, period positivity can help overcome this menstrual taboo by:

Period positivity aims to break the silence and promote conversations about menstruation. Individuals can seek help, share their experiences, and learn from one another by encouraging open dialogues.

Promoting period positivity involves addressing misconceptions, providing reliable information, and educating people about the biological aspects of menstruation. With this knowledge, people may make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

The period positivity movement challenges social norms that have encouraged discrimination and period shame. By challenging these norms, we can try to create an equal and welcoming environment for all.

Adopting a period positivity mindset can boost self-confidence and empower people to accept their bodies completely. It encourages people to see their periods as a beautiful and natural part of who they are, not something to hide or be embarrassed about.

Period positivity acknowledges that people of all gender identities, including transgender men, non-binary people, and intersex people, menstruate. It encourages equality by valuing and acknowledging the experiences of every person who menstruates.

How to promote period positivity?

Menstrual hygiene: Every woman needs to maintain proper menstrual hygiene to protect their reproductive health and overall well-being. The goal of period positivity campaigns is to ensure that menstruation is safe and clean by offering guidance and resources.

Educating students in school: Menstrual stigma is a human rights violation and hence, it’s very important to conduct a proper education on menstrual and reproductive health to promote period positivity.

Positive portrayal in media: The media plays a huge role in influencing society's perspective. People who embrace period positivity look at periods in a positive light. We can normalize periods by showing it in movies, TV shows, and commercials without shame or embarrassment.

Menstrual products: One of the biggest challenges in accepting period positivity is period poverty, or the inability to pay for menstrual products. It is essential to ensure that menstruation products are free or reasonably priced for everyone, irrespective of their financial situation.

Open discussions and support groups: It is important to promote open conversations about sexual and reproductive health to create a safe environment for individuals to put out their experiences openly. Online networks, support groups, and projects that unite people with similar experiences can offer comfort, wisdom, and empowerment.

Period positivity is a powerful campaign to empower every woman to speak up for their reproductive health and spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. By offering awareness and education and creating a destigmatized environment regarding menstruation, it challenges societal norms and produces a healthier and more inclusive environment.

Conclusion

Embrace period positivity to create an environment of self-acceptance. Period positivity can break down gender stereotypes and with its help, we can thrive for a day when menstruation isn’t considered a taboo or a topic of shame.