International Women’s Day: #balanceforbetter

Addressing menstruation is a key component to achieving that gender balance, equality, and equity at every level of society. Why? Because menstruation is too often a barrier. It casts people as dirty or contaminated and places restrictions upon them which excludes them from fully participating in their daily lives. It is an extra financial burden (think: Tampon Tax) over something that cannot be controlled.

Femme’s Judith and Emma with students at Enkijape Primary School.

Pain is the number one reason globally that women and girls stay home during menstruation. First off, they’re missing school or work. Secondly, there is a worrying lack of research into what causes period pain, and how to treat it effectively. If more menstruators were making funding decisions or sitting on research ethics committees, there would probably be more money and more incentive to research this, as opposed to turning up at a clinic and being told to ‘deal with it’.

Ever heard of the tampon tax? Or on a broader level, the pink tax? Despite a growing movement in many countries, menstrual products are often still taxed as ‘luxury’ items, while things like wedding cakes, Viagra, or maraschino cherries are not taxed. I think most menstruators would agree that purchasing menstrual products is not a choice, it’s a necessity.

The gender pay gap is already well documented, where women make less than men for equal work. And then they have to pay more for their bodies – menstrual supplies each month, or are paying up to hundreds of dollars for some type of hormonal contraception. In family settings, it is also usually women who help to pay for other women’s menstrual costs. Bottom line: women earn less but pay more.

Hiding menstrual status is key. Women slip products up sleeves, into pockets, and once in the bathroom, wait for everyone else to leave so no one will hear the package crinkling. Product manufacturers boast smaller, more discreet, quieter packaging. In many countries, it’s even taboo to reveal menstrual status to men and boys. Women and girls fear the teasing or sexual abuse they will face if this is known. The non-menstruating body is what is considered status quo, and to deviate from that is an aberration that needs to be concealed and solved. In one study, a woman dropped either a tampon or a hair clip. Afterwards, participants rated women who had dropped a tampon as less competent and less likeable than those who had dropped a hair clip. Participants also tended to sit further away from tampon-droppers. All because it was a visible reminder of her menstrual status. Now extrapolate this scenario to every day in public, where a female applicant suddenly becomes less desirable for no reason other than she happens to reveal her menstrual status.

Women are judged much more harshly than men, and by different criteria. This is compounded when menstruation is added to the mix. A study on female entrepreneurs in Sweden, one of the most gender-equal countries globally, found that female entrepreneurs are, unsurprisingly, judged on very different criteria than their male counterparts. Women who pitched were more likely to be judged on their appearance, were often referred to as needing support (or somehow lacking it), were portrayed as anxious and worried about their success, and had their competency questioned. Male pitches were much less likely to be referred to negatively. Additionally, only the men were referred to as entrepreneurs. At the end of the day, men received 52% of the venture capital they’d requested; women received 26%.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) is #balanceforbetter. What does that mean? It is referencing the facts and statistics that demonstrate gender equality benefits everyone – it is not just about women.

“All of these inequalities add up – women are paid less, taken less seriously, judged based on their appearance as opposed to their ability, and generally considered a less capable aberration of the default male (non-menstruating) status quo. We live in a world designed by men, for men, and it takes its toll.”

Ironically, female is actually the biological default. Male feotal development requires that specific signals be sent and received in order to develop male internal and external reproductive organs, and gender identity. When those signals are not sent or received, the default female will develop. Furthermore, XX (female chromosomes) is viable, whilst YY is not. Males are XY chromosomes.

Addressing menstruation removes one of the barriers that women and girls face. Armed with accurate and practical information, an understanding of their bodies and how it works, and the tools they need, women and girls are better able to stand their ground. When they are not suffering from shame and anxiety of leaking, they can concentrate at school and work, and be present for key moments. Energy is instead directed to excelling professionally. Women and girls are empowered every day of the month.

Period.