Girl Advocates in the U.S., Nepal, and Uganda Are Destigmatizing Periods

In honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th, Global G.L.O.W. Youth Correspondent Nuri hosted a powerful discussion on menstrual equity with Girl Advocacy Committee Alumni Roselyne from Kenya and Samjhana from Nepal.

These young advocates came together to share their experiences and addressed their peers’ questions about menstruation.

Read on to learn how Nuri is continuing the conversation to end period stigma after the discussion:

In a recent virtual discussion on menstrual equity that I hosted, I had the opportunity to speak with youth advocates Roselyne Kenya and Samjhana from Nepal. We did a deep dive into the state of period stigmatization in each of our communities, guided by valuable questions from GLOW Club Members worldwide. 

Global G.L.O.W. Youth Correspondent Nuri hosted the discussion on menstrual equity and discovered similarities in girls’ experiences of periods – even across different cultures.

“We highlighted the importance of everyone continuing difficult yet important dialogues about periods – and that is exactly what we did during our discussion.”

Not only were we able to share our personal experiences as menstruators in our communities and address concerns from girls worldwide, but our conversation unraveled the current state of period education and highlighted the ongoing need to be open and have honest conversations about this natural occurrence. We highlighted the importance of everyone continuing difficult yet important dialogues about periods – and that is exactly what we did during our discussion.

During our conversation, I learned about the unique challenges girls face in different cultural contexts. For instance, in many communities, menstruation is still considered a taboo subject, leading to a lack of education and support for young girls. Samjhana shared that in Nepal, women and girls who are menstruating are believed to bring bad luck to their community if they touch certain things. In Uganda, Roselyne shared that girls face discrimination and shame for attending school during periods.

“It was encouraging to know that girls in other communities share my passion for advocating for menstrual equity.”

Samjhana, Girl Advocacy Committee Alumna, shared that in Nepal, women and girls who are menstruating are believed to bring bad luck to their community if they touch certain things.

Together, we explored ways to break down these barriers, such as involving community leaders in educational initiatives and creating safe spaces for girls to ask questions and share their experiences. It was encouraging to know that girls in other communities share my passion for advocating for menstrual equity.

One of the most striking insights from our discussion was the amount of questions reflecting a keen interest in learning about menstruation. We found that GLOW Club Members were eager to learn about the normality of period symptoms, effective pain management, and ways to cope with the physical and emotional challenges of menstruation. This highlighted a common thread: many girls are unaware of what is happening to their bodies when they get their period for the first time, and some remain uncertain even after years of menstruating.

“It was surreal to realize that many of the uncertainties, thoughts, and curiosities I had as a young girl were shared by others worldwide.”

I discovered that I could empathize with many young girls’ experiences with periods. I was surprised to discover the commonality among the questions girls asked about periods – questions I, too, had at their age. It was surreal to realize that many of the uncertainties, thoughts, and curiosities I had as a young girl were shared by others worldwide. Back then, I didn’t know how to ask these questions or talk about them. 

Most girls around me rarely discussed their experiences with menstruation, and while some mentioned they were menstruating, they never talked about how it affected them, especially regarding their mental health. This shared experience emphasized for Roselyne, Samjhana, and me the importance of better period education and open conversations about menstruation in so many communities, not just our own.

Girl Advocacy Committee Alumna Roselyne shared that girls in Uganda face discrimination and shame for attending school during periods.

“I encourage you to be open and vulnerable about what is naturally happening to you as a girl.”

Many girls also asked how the female body works and why certain things happen during menstruation, highlighting the importance of seeking help when needed. Seeking help is crucial as it ensures that girls receive correct information and adequate support, which can alleviate anxiety and confusion about menstruation. This openness fosters a culture of understanding and acceptance, helping us become one step closer to eliminating period stigma and improving girls’ overall experiences during menstruation. 

I want girls to feel empowered by their bodies and their menstruation. It’s completely normal to be unsure about what is happening to their bodies when menstruating. There is nothing to be ashamed of – menstruation is a natural and vital part of life. I encourage you to be open and vulnerable about what is naturally happening to you as a girl. 

“It’s important for everyone – not just women and girls – to be supportive and understanding towards those who menstruate around you so we can normalize talking about periods.”

We can help each other create an environment where we can all feel comfortable and not embarrassed about something natural that we cannot control. It’s important for everyone – not just women and girls – to be supportive and understanding towards those who menstruate around you so we can normalize talking about periods. 

Together, we can create a world where every girl has the knowledge, confidence, and resources to manage her menstrual health with dignity and pride. Be empowered by who you are and feel empowered by menstruation – because there is nothing to hide!

Global G.L.O.W. mentors girls around the world to become powerful advocates and confident leaders. Since inception, our GLOW Clubs have ignited the power of over 91,000 girls to do 3 transformative things: increase their confidence, strengthen their voice, and build their power.

To learn more from Nuri, Samjhana, and Roselyne’s discussion, watch the recording here. Special thanks to Rukmini Foundation in Nepal and Youth & Women Opportunities Uganda, who coordinate GLOW Clubs and support girls’ active participation in the Girl Advocacy Committee.