For something that affects 800 million people every day, it’s pretty strange that we still treat periods like a taboo subject, don’t you think? Because for 12 weeks of the year, we drag our bodies into work - stomach cramps and all - armed with tampons, pads and painkillers in ‘subtle’ pouches - speaking about our menstrual cycle (only when absolutely required), in hushed tones? A new social media campaign, #JustATampon however, is seeking to finally remove that stigma, while also drawing our attention to a very important cause.
Yup - If you’ve been left baffled by a sudden influx of tampon-centric selfies, chances are your Instagram friends have joined the #JustATampon movement. Sending the loud-and-proud message that it’s JUST A TAMPON and not something to be embarrassed by, it also highlights that, for some women, discomfort is the least of their period problems. Captions urge others to donate £3 to PlanUKby texting TAMPON to 70007, to raise money for countries that don’t have our wealth of options.
“Around the world, millions of girls face discrimination just for being girls. One way this manifests itself is through poor access to quality menstrual health and hygiene.“It not only poses health issues, but means girls can miss school when they have their period and face bullying. Only 12 percent of girls and women have access to sanitary products around the world. And in Africa, one in ten girls miss school when they have their period,” explains PlanUK. Just one donation can provide a girl in Uganda sanitary towels for a year, and money raised will tackle issues such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, too.
But PlanUK isn’t the only charity opening up the period discussion; WaterAidis also keen to stamp down on the stigma. Their #IfMenHadPeriods campaign highlights how different the world would be if men had to toss tampons in their suitcase and deal with stomach-churning cramps - which would surely be the new manflu. They say: “If men had periods they would be considered a sign of virility, men would brag about them on Facebook, #ImOnMyPeriod would probably trend regularly on twitter, and tampon adverts would be fronted by celebrities.”
How very depressingly true. As part of the campaign, which aims to improve women’s sanitation, men are wearing their manpons with pride in a set of videos that are too funny to miss.
So, can we stop tip-toeing around the issue of tampons and periods now, please?