By: Ivan Plyler
From slipping a tampon up your sleeve to making sure no one hears you open a pad, people who menstruate often go to great lengths to avoid making others aware of their periods. It shouldn’t be that way. We shouldn’t be ashamed of a totally natural thing.
When we stigmatize periods, we discourage people from correctly caring for themselves. Maybe you don’t have a tampon at school and are too ashamed to ask for one. You might leave one in until you get home, leading to health problems.
Stigmatizing a completely normal experience causes many people to feel ashamed of something that is natural. Many feel depressed or down around their period, and stigma or shame may just worsen that feeling.
Which is what Period Poverty Inc is here to do. Not only are we a resource for you, we are also here to end the stigma of menstruation, and create a community.