This year marks the tenth anniversary of Menstrual Hygiene Day. In order to celebrate this huge milestone, we thought it’s a good time to remind us all why a #PeriodFriendlyWorld is so important to everyone…
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024: What is it?
Imagine a time when millions of women around the world don’t have access to adequate sanitation or period products. Or are discriminated against for having periods, the stigma and stress causing mental health issues for many.
Well, as it turns out, you don’t have to imagine that time, because those things are happening right now. In 2024. In a town near you. Or maybe even to you. Whether through the cost of living, conflict, societal taboos, lack of education, or stereotypes about periods, for millions of women and girls getting period products, or simply living their lives, can be almost impossible.
That’s not just incredibly stressful for the women and girls involved, but it also means they’re more likely to miss school or work, or stop going altogether. That means the world misses out on their talents, their work, and their contributions to society. Which is how this affects everyone — who knows what we’ve lost because women and girls couldn’t go to school, or work?
And it’s this period injustice that Menstrual Hygiene Day was invented to combat because, together, we can produce a period-friendly world by 2030.
This affects us all
Now, the name Menstrual Hygiene Day might suggest that we’re talking about cleanliness in some fashion, but we can assure you that is most definitely not the case. Yes, it’s a terrible name, however, what it encompasses is everything mentioned above plus some other super-important stuff.
Let’s be clear, in this context, hygiene and health means period education, adequate sanitation, and access to period products. But it also means the health of the economy, society, and the world in general.
How does Menstrual Hygiene Day work?
Since 2014, MH Day has used campaigns in the media and on the socials to raise awareness and, crucially, money to help women and girls everywhere dealing with period injustice. The funds generally come from partner companies, governments, and charities and go towards:
- Campaigning to change negative social norms, taboos, and stereotypes
- Advocating for period-friendly policy, including the removal or reduction of menstrual product taxes
- Providing access to good-quality period products
- Organizing menstruation education for schoolchildren
- Making sure that marginalized groups, including refugees and those with disabilities, have what they need for good menstrual hygiene and health
Starting with just 2,000 mentions on social media in 2014, by last year, Menstrual Hygiene Day had grown to over 200,000 posts. Globally, the message reached over 700 million people in 2023, up from 22m the first year. And that’s all thanks to people like you.
And that pressure works. Countries all around the globe are starting to wake up to this problem. For instance, in 2023 Spain passed a law enabling women to take time off work for severe period pain, Brasil and Zimbabwe are implenting period education in all schools, and girls in Australia, Zambia, New Zealand, France, and Botswana have access to free period products at school.
Why do they need my help?
Sadly, even after a decade of MH days, there are still 500 million women and girls living with period injustice. And that’s just way too many for the 21st century.
As we’re fast approaching the deadline of 2030 for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, it’s up to all of us to help. Women, along with the rest of the world, are depending on it. Because, by improving this situation, we can improve access to water, sanitation, education, and the lives of millions of people globally.
What can I do?
Most importantly, make your voice heard! Post on the socials using #PeriodFriendlyWorld, and let everyone know what’s going on – there are tons of resources, including frames and stickers available for free on the official Menstrual Health Day site. Join the Ambassadors network to use your influence for a great cause, and keep the conversation going as often as possible, not just today.
Wear the Menstruation bracelet – either in real life or digitally – to show your support. You can even make your own – 28 beads, with 5 red ones to symbolize the menstrual cycle. All the details can be found on the website.
You can also contact period product companies, political representatives, charities, and anyone else you can think of to let them know how important this issue is to you and women everywhere. And remind them that we’re not just talking about throwing tampons and pads at it either. Money is also needed for infrastructure, education, training, and all of the things necessary for women and girls to thrive.
And in the immediate term, you could donate period products to your local charity or food bank and make someone’s life 1,000% easier this month.
Menstrual Hygiene Day: TLDR
There are still far too many women and girls in the world living with period injustice. Whether that’s through lack of access to period products, inadequate water infrastructure, poor sanitation, or stigma, it’s time to change it.
MH day was conceived to fight this battle, and lead us into a #PeriodFriendlyWorld by 2030. We’re just six years away, with a very long way to go. But we’re making progress and with your help, we can get even more governments, charities and companies on board.
Speak up using #PeriodFriendlyWorld on the socials, download and use the images and resources available on the official MH day website, and get as many people on board as you can. Making our voices heard makes a difference. So let’s get really loud for the tenth anniversary!
