Blog Post:
Menstruation, also known as a period, is a natural process that occurs in the female body every month. However, for centuries, it has been surrounded by stigma, shame, and secrecy. Women and girls have been taught to hide their periods and not talk about them openly. This stigma has been deeply ingrained in society and has had a significant impact on how periods are perceived and treated. In the last 50 years, there has been a gradual shift in attitudes towards periods, with more open discussions and a push towards normalizing this natural bodily function. In this blog post, we will explore the evolution of menstrual stigma and how attitudes towards periods have changed in the last 50 years.
The 1960s – The Era of Silence and Shame:
In the 1960s, periods were a taboo topic, and the shame and stigma surrounding them were at its peak. Women and girls were taught to hide their periods and not discuss them openly. Menstruation was considered dirty and disgusting, and women were often made to feel ashamed of it. This attitude was perpetuated by the media, which depicted periods as something to be hidden and not talked about. Ads for period products often used vague language and euphemisms to avoid explicitly mentioning periods. This silence and shame surrounding periods had a significant impact on women’s lives, as they were forced to hide their pain and discomfort and pretend like everything was normal.
The 1970s – The Start of Change:
The 1970s marked the beginning of a change in attitudes towards periods. The feminist movement was gaining momentum, and women were starting to speak out about issues that had been silenced for too long. This included issues related to menstruation. Women started to question the stigma and shame surrounding periods and demanded more open discussions about them. This decade also saw the rise of the women’s health movement, which focused on empowering women to take control of their bodies and health. This movement played a crucial role in breaking the silence and shame surrounding periods.
The 1980s – The Rise of Period Activists:
The 1980s saw the emergence of period activists who were determined to break the stigma and shame surrounding periods. They organized protests, started educational programs, and pushed for more open discussions about menstruation. One of the most notable figures of this decade was Gloria Steinem, a feminist and journalist who wrote a groundbreaking article titled “If Men Could Menstruate,” which highlighted the absurdity of the stigma surrounding periods.
The 1990s – The Beginning of Period Positivity:
The Evolution of Menstrual Stigma: How Attitudes Towards Periods Have Changed in the Last 50 Years
In the 1990s, there was a significant shift towards period positivity. Women started to embrace their periods and talk about them more openly. This was also the decade when the first menstrual cups were introduced, providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional period products. Advertisements for period products started to become more open and honest, using terms like “period” and “menstruation” instead of euphemisms. This decade also saw the launch of the first-ever National Period Day in the United States, which aimed to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and break the stigma surrounding periods.
The 2000s – The Rise of Social Media and Period Activism:
The 2000s saw a significant shift in the way periods were discussed and portrayed in the media. The rise of social media gave a platform for women to share their experiences and start important conversations about periods. This also led to the emergence of period activism on social media, where women shared their stories and pushed for more open discussions about menstruation. Menstrual products, such as reusable cloth pads and period panties, also gained popularity during this decade, providing sustainable and comfortable alternatives to disposable products.
The 2010s – Menstruation Goes Mainstream:
The last decade saw a significant push towards mainstreaming periods. Companies like Thinx and DivaCup started to advertise on mainstream media, and period-positive campaigns were launched by major brands, such as Always and Bodyform. This helped to break the taboo surrounding periods and bring them into the mainstream conversation. The rise of period poverty and the period tax also garnered attention during this decade, leading to important conversations about accessibility and affordability of period products.
The Present – A Push Towards Normalization and Education:
Today, there is a growing movement towards normalizing periods and educating people about menstruation. More and more companies are launching period-positive campaigns, and period activism is gaining momentum on social media. Governments around the world are also taking steps towards making period products more accessible and affordable for all. In recent years, there has also been a push towards including menstrual education in school curriculums, breaking the taboo and providing young girls with the knowledge and resources to manage their periods confidently.
Summary:
In the last 50 years, attitudes towards periods have shifted from silence and shame to open discussions and period positivity. The rise of feminism, period activism, and social media has played a crucial role in breaking the stigma and pushing for normalization and education about menstruation. While there is still a long way to go, these changes in attitudes towards periods have had a significant impact on how women and girls perceive their bodies and manage their periods.