NEW YORK, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — To mark International Women’s Day, Plan International USA (Plan) and the Always brand are releasing a new report entitled, Menstrual Health & Hygiene “It’s Time to Talk.” The findings indicate 85% of girls and young women agree that if they heard others talking openly about periods, they would feel more confident about their own. In the U.S., people are more comfortable talking openly about sex, STDs, politics, and family issues than they are about periods.
“It is hard to believe how much shame and secrecy there is worldwide around something as normal as periods,” says Tessie San Martin, President and CEO of Plan. “Menstruation should be a subject that is spoken about openly and intentionally to help educate and empower young people. Yet, in this report, we see that the lingering taboos around periods compromise a young person’s confidence during puberty, a formative time in their lives.”
The report, which sheds light on the negative effects of period stigma in society, is a compilation of newly uncovered data and in-depth historical research and analysis conducted by Always and their research partners throughout the years. It underscores the importance of having open conversations about periods and offers educational guidance to facilitate discussions that help eradicate period stigma.
“This newly released report by Plan International USA and Always confirms what many of us have known for years: that period stigma…
