Are Schools Failing Young People Who Menstruate?

Periods. Why are they so “bloody” stigmatised within schools when over half our population experiences them? Talking about periods within schools can be highly frustrating due to the lack of education surrounding them, which is ironic really, bearing in mind it is within the very institution itself that was created in order to teach. It may come as a shock that it was only in 2020 that it became compulsory to teach periods in schools, meaning many students were not educated until just two years ago. This reluctance to teach bodily autonomy and a natural function is reflected in the classroom, from the sniggers to bright red faces it is clear that schools have become a breeding ground for stigma.

This really bothers me, being of the firm belief that if schools had open conversations about such topics and stopped viewing them as a private issue, embarrassment would be reduced and periods would be normalised. After all, surely there is nothing more normal than something you experience for 3,500 days (about 9 and a half years) of your life. I am sure I cannot be the only one who is sick of asking myself- In 2022, why are periods and vaginas still considered “taboo”?#

I have been lucky enough to attend an all-girls school for most of my life with the recent introduction of accessible and free period products. However, this has not always been the case due to overruling attitudes that free sanitary products should not be a “priority” despite the government schemes. An allowance for a range of products is often unsuccessful due to the process of setting up an account prior to the school year. In my own experience, the products considered “the best” are also annoyingly, the most expensive. Schools that do offer products tend to stock up on cheap tampons, which are a temporary fix, rather than longer-term solutions that are also offered in Government schemes, such as reusable pads. Many people share this problematic belief that period poverty is not an issue within western culture and recently I have been trying to work out why. I have come to the conclusion that not only do we have to fight extra hard to get our voices heard, but as this is such a stigmatised issue, it is simply not talked about enough to cross the minds of those with the power to make a change. 

It is certainly not only teachers that feel this way, but students are one of the most important groups to have their barriers to education reduced and ideally eliminated completely. Especially as this issue disproportionately impacts girls’ school attendance with more than 137,700 girls in the UK missing school last year. Period product companies are not doing enough to combat period poverty within schools, making it harder for these students to obtain qualifications whilst competing against non-menstruators. These companies are symptomatic of our patriarchal and capitalist society, fueling this issue further by placing profit at a higher value than people. Who is more likely to do well in an exam, someone who feels fine, or someone who is struggling with cramps, migraines, and nausea? Let alone considering someone with all those symptoms who has the added worry of where their next tampon is coming from. 

In reality, it is an issue everywhere, a problem that has only been worsened by the pandemic with more than a third of girls aged 14-21 struggling to afford or access menstrual products. I for one am incredibly worried about how the cost-of-living crisis is going to amplify this. Period products are already being viewed as a luxury due to their price when they are a necessity. With 22% of British women already using food banks to get their menstrual products, I would absolutely love to know the government’s unknown plan to combat this. Knock-on effects from rising bills are everywhere but we simply cannot just “stop” our periods from coming. It is a monthly expense that we should be assisted with, especially while trying to gain an education. For everyone, School should be a safe place and in order to truly create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, they should step in and provide free sanitary products. 

Ultimately, it is almost impossible to tell a student who is left unable to focus on a lesson as they are too worried about bleeding through their “make-shift” pad, that school has not failed them. 

Words by Izzy Jakes

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