Graphic Online
BY: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
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Three civil society organisations in the country have joined global partners in menstrual health and hygiene to launch this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day in Accra.
The three are Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), Association of African Women in Development (AAWID) and Youth Support Foundation (YSF).
The launch was symbolically marked with a kick of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) football, which is going round 26 countries globally on the virtual campaign and on the theme, “Kick off a dialogue on menstrual health”.
Campaign
The campaign, which started on May 1, 2021, is to last through to May 28, 2021 as a way to trigger a transnational dialogue on menstrual health and hygiene to support girls and young women including those living with disabilities as part of their feminine journey to menstruate with dignity.
On Menstrual Hygiene Day, Boondh Cups and Schbang are asking an important question: If blood, pain, and hygiene have never had a gender, why should menstruation?
The history of menstruation language
The history of menstruation language
The way we talk about our periods hasn t always been the same. Here s how our language around menstruation has evolved over time.
Linguistic experts Lucy Trowbridge, and Taylor Hermerding, from the language learning app Babbel offer insight into the linguistic stigma surrounding periods and menstruation for Menstrual Hygiene Day (28th May):
If we look back through history, menstrual cycles have been stigmatised as an inconvenient time of the month that shouldn’t be spoken about while in polite company. Throughout the 20th century, the phrases and euphemisms used to describe menstruation, such as sanitary products and feminine hygiene , have often implied that there is something unclean or dirty about periods. Many generations were taught that having a period is something that shouldn’t be discussed, or that periods are something about which to be ashamed.
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Mandira Bedi, Neha Dhupia
Menstrual Hygiene Day is marked on May 28 every year. There s an interesting theory about the date. Did you know that 28 stands for the average length of a menstrual cycle, whereas 5 marks the average number of days of menstruation, hence the day is May 28. It is observed across globe to mark the importance of menstrual hygiene, break the stigma around periods, raise awareness and change the negative mindsets, which prevent girls and women from having a safe period.
Bollywood actresses Neha Dhupia and Mandira Bedi took to Instagram to share awareness videos on the day. In order to undo the stigma and negative connotations around a period, Menstrual Hygiene Day brings about an acceptance, thus encouraging young girls and women to embrace their period hygienically.