Menstrual Hygiene Day

Why Menstrual Hygiene Day Matters: Dismantling Stigma and Building a Period-Friendly World for All

Let’s be real, periods are still one of the most misunderstood, whispered-about, and unnecessarily shameful topics in our world. And that’s exactly why May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day, matters.

This day isn’t just about period products and hygiene, it’s about dignity, access, rights, and challenging centuries of silence. The date itself is symbolic: May 28 (like the average 28-day cycle) reminds us of the millions of people who menstruate each month and the millions more conversations we still need to have.

As someone who has worked in the menstrual health space for years, I’ve seen the power that comes from talking openly about menstruation and the damage that stigma still causes when we don’t. Whether it’s a girl missing school in South Africa because she can’t afford pads, or a non-binary teenager in the UK too afraid to ask for help managing their period, the message society gives is the same: periods are dirty, private, and something to be endured in silence.

But where does that shame come from?

Scholars like Chris Bobel have shown how menstruation has been framed historically through the lens of control. Bobel explains how even well-intentioned interventions often reinforce the idea that periods are a problem to be solved, rather than a natural part of life. For centuries, religious texts and cultural norms from Biblical rules to Hindu purification rituals have painted menstruation as impure. This stigma has trickled down into our schools, homes, workplaces, and health systems, turning a biological fact into a lifelong barrier for so many. Even today, 500 million people worldwide don’t have access to proper menstrual products or facilities. And while we often think this is only an issue in the Global South, stigma is everywhere. A recent survey found that more than half of men in the US think it's inappropriate to talk about periods in the workplace. In Nepal, menstruating girls and women are still forced to isolate themselves in huts during their periods, a practice that has cost lives. And right here in South Africa, many young girls are missing school during their periods, falling behind simply because they bleed.

This is not just a health issue. It’s a human rights issue.

A Period Friendly World is one where no one is held back, where period products are freely available in schools and public toilets, where menstruation is part of the curriculum for all students (yes, boys too), and where conversations about periods are met with understanding, not shame. Because let’s be honest: we can’t shift culture if we only talk to people who menstruate. We need boys and men in the room. When fathers buy pads without flinching, when male teachers support students who are menstruating, when boys grow up knowing that periods aren’t gross, they’re natural, we start to shift the norm.

And let’s not forget: not all women menstruate, and not all people who menstruate are women. A truly inclusive period movement recognises that trans men and non-binary people are often left out of both services and conversations. Building a period-friendly world means being intentional with our language, inclusive in our policies, and compassionate in our activism.

There is hope. Every time we speak up whether it’s through workshops, advocacy, storytelling, or even social media, we chip away at the stigma that’s been centuries in the making.

This Menstrual Hygiene Day, I’m not just calling for change. I’m calling for courage.

Courage to speak the truth about our bodies. Courage to demand policies that include and protect all menstruators. Courage to say: periods are powerful and we won’t be shamed into silence.

Because a Period Friendly World isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a necessary one.

Further Reading: 

World Bank (Global Access to Menstrual Products and Facilities): World Bank. Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Updated May 25, 2022. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/menstrual-health-and-hygiene

Nepal (Chhaupadi Practice and Fatalities): Turner, Rebecca. “Chhaupadi: The Deadly Menstrual Taboo Still Practised in Nepal.” News 32, January 2020. https://www.news32.com/chhaupadi-deadly-menstrual-taboo-nepal 

(Note: The link above is representative; if you're citing a specific incident such as the 2019 death in a hut, you may want to reference BBC or Al Jazeera articles for more robust attribution.

United States (Plan International Survey): Plan International USA. It’s Time to Talk Menstrual Health in the U.S. March 2022. https://www.planusa.org/blog/its-time-to-talk-menstrual-health-in-the-u-s/ 

South Africa (Menstrual Health and School Absenteeism): Steiner Hygiene. Period Poverty in South Africa: Why Menstruation Shouldn't Stop Education. April 2023. https://steiner.co.za/period-poverty-in-south-africa 

Candice Chirwa 

Founder and Director of QRATE

About Candice Chirwa:

Candice Chirwa is an award-winning gender equity advocate, educator, and thought leader specializing in menstrual health, gender rights, and social impact. Known widely as the "Minister of Menstruation," Candice leverages over eight years of experience at the intersection of international relations, nonprofit leadership, and grassroots activism to champion period positivity and systemic gender equality.

Candice is the Founder and Director of QRATE, a groundbreaking nonprofit organization dedicated to ending period poverty and normalizing menstrual health through innovative education programs and advocacy. Through QRATE, Candice has directly impacted over 10,000 young people across South Africa, empowering communities by dismantling menstrual stigma and fostering sustainable, community-driven solutions.

A recognized thought leader, Candice's work has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as a Mail & Guardian Powerful Woman, a Constitutional Hill honoree, NYDA Youth Trailblazer in Business & Entrepreneurship, and a Golden Key International Honour Society Honorary Member (2023). Her influence extends through strategic partnerships with global brands such as Global Citizen, Engen, and Nedbank, amplifying the conversation around menstrual dignity and women's rights at both national and international levels.