What have we achieved so far?

Hey friends! this campaign has been running for 6 weeks now and I thought it would be nice to share some proud moments / what we have achieved together so far! I have learnt so much and hope you have too!

1. We’ve gone international!

I was amazed when checking out which country people had been visiting from to see so many overseas visitors! Australia is the top country, but we’ve had heaps of traffic from both the USA and India – as well as Canada, Finland, Mexico, the UK, Spain and Belgium! (If you’re reading from one of those countries right now – Thank you!!!)

These can be attributed to the brands that we have been covering, but it’s lovely to see that we’ve made some impact (no matter how small!) on a global scale!

2. We got sassy on Twitter!

N1 tip for addressing menstruation with an uncomfortable partner?!

Dump them and find someone more mature #menstruationmatters

— The Bloody Truth Org (@BloodyTruthOrg) October 17, 2016

Not the most amazingly informative Tweet we’ve ever written, but still! It felt good to get a brand voice out there. In many ways it’s easy to get bogged down in information and not stop for a moment and really establish a personality that audiences can connect with.

3. We’ve connected with some really, really kind people!

We’ve had so much lovely feedback from the brands we have connected with, shout out to EcoFemme for being such an amazing and personable brand. So encouraging! Or being invited to share our thoughts via BloodCycleConference’s ( https://twitter.com/bloodcyclecon )  #hysteriahour!

4. We’ve inspired some discussion!

Even if its just on a small scale, I know from personal stories people have shared about the campaign that more people are aware of the issues facing so many girls. And periods in general! One family shared with me that they took our menstruation knowledge quiz around the dinner table whilst on holiday! Epic. 

Thank you for all the support so far! It means the world to me and I hope someone out there has switched from their regular big-brand sanitary products to one of the brands I’ve covered!!!! – Alicia

Brand Spotlight: Easy.

image: Sgt. Justin Morelli

Does anyone else hate shopping for period supplies? Honestly, I would so much rather have them just appear in my cabinet whenever I need them. Luckily, Easy has the next best thing – 100% organic cotton tampons & pads delivered to your door every 3 months.

We’re back with another brand spotlight today, this time especially for our readers from the US and Canada! From the magic powers of social media analytics, I know there is a fair chunk of you 😉 Enjoy!

Why love them?

I’m sorry, customised pads & tampons delivered to your door on the regular with a bar of FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE? Girl 👏🏼 we 👏🏼 are 👏🏼 all  👏🏼 about 👏🏼 that 👏🏼 life 👏🏼 !

All products are 100% certified organic cotton, free from some of the nasties we covered a few weeks ago, and the backing & outer wrap are made from corn starch – plastic free all the way! Your vag & the planet will thank you.

Furthermore, 5% of all profits will be donated to helping the cause of girls in East Africa through the ZanaAfrica Foundation. ZanaAfrica fosters relationships with NGOs and community organisations to support young girls through education & the supplying pads that are designed by and for girls!

What’s on Offer?

Pick whatever suits your need best for your boxes – you have the choice between a combination of tampons, pads & liners, with the standard being 4 boxes of each product (however this can be customised). Check out the full range here!

Brand Spotlight: Moxie’s ‘Pads for Pads’!

What’s this?! An accessible brand already being sold in major supermarkets across Australia and donating profits to helping girls in Uganda?! Yes, dear readers, I’m back with another brand spotlight post, and today’s focus is on Moxie’s ‘Pads for Pads’ program they have set up with AFRIpads!

Why Love Them?

The first thing I am so excited about is how accessible this brand is! I’ve seen them stocked across so many major retailers here in Sydney, and they’re also on offer internationally in Belgium, Estonia, Greece, the USA, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malta, New Zealand, Taiwan and the UK!! That means there are so many of my lovely international readers that can grab these at your local supermarket, no problem.

Moxie has created this initiative in conjunction with AFRIpads, whom we have already blogged about. These are another great opportunity to support their work to alleviate the massive absentee rate with young girls in Uganda due to a lack of sanitary product access through reusable cloth pads.

As of December last year, Moxie has already supported the education of almost 11 thousand Ugandan schoolgirls! Amazing stuff! They have plans to continue the program indefinitely, by redistributing part of their profits in a more meaningful way not based on fundraising.

What’s On Offer?

The pads for pads program is linked to the following Moxie products
Slenders Pads , Slenders Liners, Sleepover Pads  or any box sold from the Moxie box club, which delivers your choice of Moxie sanitary products to your door on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis!

THANK YOU MOXIE, WE LOVE WHAT YOU DO!!! I am so incredibly excited to have discovered that such a well established brand is a trailblazer for championing the rights of girls in the developing world!
– Alicia

In which things get a little heated

image: D. Willetts for UNICEF

I’m back with another deeply upsetting statistic for you readers today (just to brighten your day – sorry ’bout it), but the first thing I want to today is to express my frustration. This frustration is that, for me, the more I research and come to terms with this issue, the more I see how it underpins so many aspects of society that need addressing. The gender divide, misconception about sex, a lack of education, the cycle of poverty, severe health issues – these are all encompassed through the issue of the menstrual health landscape globally.

It is one that could be addressed so much more through governmental policy, educational support and social enterprise work… and to be fair, there are so many agencies out there working towards alleviating this issue within developing communities. But in the mainstream, no one seems to want to talk about it, and convincing whole populations of the value of solving an issue is such an integral part of that action coming to fruition. It’s not a priority because it’s not marketable, and it’s not marketable because the rights of girls globally are for so many, not a priority.

Ok – the promised statistic, and a question:

65% of women and girls in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary pads. What exactly happens when a lack of access due to cost is the major barrier between sanitary pads access and women?

If that means nothing to you, please imagine yourself in this scenario: You get your first period, and you are terrified. Firstly of talking to anyone about it, even your own mother, because people always say girls only get their periods after they have lost their virginity. You know that’s not true, but still, people will talk. So you go to the store (the one far far away from where you live, so that no one you know will see you and tell other people). You pick up a packet of sanitary pads off the shelf, check the price and your mouth gets dry. There is no way you could afford these for one month, let alone every month for the perceivable future. Slowly you start to think about what you’ve heard some of the older girls are saying. Men have money. Especially the ones that hang around by the cars on the street, or by the dock. And if you have sex with them, they will buy you sanitary pads. They don’t use a condom, they never do. But what other choice do you have? You are terrified, young and desperate, and there is no way you can deal with having a period on your own.

Transactional sex is not an isolated act for so many young girls in rural Kenya, and in a country where HIV has the fourth highest prevalence in the world, the consequences of engaging in such activities become even direr. A study published in May this year found that 2 out of 3 of pad users in rural Kenya received them from sexual partners and that there was a huge lack of understanding surrounding the connection between sex and pregnancy. I can barely even comprehend how terrifying having a period must be for so many young girls in this situation.

To sum up today I want to reiterate something I wholeheartedly believe: When girls are empowered, communities are empowered. It’s truly time to stand up for the girls all over the world who are put in high-risk situations like these and disadvantaged due to their periods. Talk to people about these issues, support organisations that are making a difference. Never forget you have the power to change the status quo. This issue desperately needs to come to the forefront of peoples attention, and you can have a role in that.

Love, Alicia

Brand Spotlight: THINX

Happy Day of the Girl everyone! What an awesome opportunity for us all to reflect on the challenges facing young women all over the world, in both developed and developing countries. Sadly, it’s 2016 and being a female still undeniably has so many challenges, from perceptions of worth, the prevalence of low self-esteem, to reproductive rights, to rape culture, to the wage gap.… Sadly, I could go on. I truly believe, however, that through sisterhood brings empowerment, and supporting other women is the most kick-ass method of defeating gender inequality! So I encourage everyone reading this to support, respect and cherish all the amazing girls and women who impact their lives for the better – let them know how much you admire their achievements! And let’s do all we can to change the lives of girls worldwide who are disadvantaged simply because of how society perceives their gender!

Speaking of support, let’s move onto our brand spotlight post this week, THINX period underwear!

Why love them?

THINX is a brand with an amazingly varied line of period absorbent underwear – we’re talking hip-huggers to sport undies to thongs, all with an anti bacterial top layer and moisture wicking absorbent core that means they are totally leak resistant. Different styles are appropriate for different flows, but the entire range of undies are reusable and stunningly designed. Also, can I please get a hell yes for a solution to having to deal with the uncomfortable rubbing-chaffing-awkward-public-attempts-to-fix a pad whilst doing sport?!

I found this quote from a recent blogpost by THINX which I think sums up why this is an amazing company to support:

“The cultural priority has never been to improve healthcare for women.

Instead of throwing up our hands in grand, “that’s-how-it’s-always-been” defeat, we’re challenging it; we’re venturing to change things.” 

Damn, isn’t it about time?! It’s 2016 and we’re still terrified as a society to confront a natural body process that women have no control over, what gives?

THINX donates a percentage of the profits made from the sales of their underwear to their partner organisation, AFRIpads , who currently have 130 employees on the ground in Uganda, who are trained to sew and sell reusable cloth pads. The women who are employed not only have a stable job but are trained in a skill, making them entrepreneurs! This gives young girls the opportunity to buy sustainable and affordable pads, which we all know the benefits of by now!

What’s on Offer?

THINX underwear can back up or replace your usual menstruation management method, and they currently have 6 styles on offer: Hip huggers, hi-waist, sport, boyshorts, cheeky and thong! To take care of them, simply rinse in cold water and pop them in with your other washing when you have time! No fuss & no mess!

Want to learn more about THINX? Check out their Facebook  & Instagram !

– Alicia

Is your period green?

Image: Ashley Felton

Sadly, we rarely stop and think about how our routine actions affect the environment. Honestly sometimes things are just so routine they are just not even on our radar. When it comes to periods, sanitary products are probably like this for most people. Sure, everyone has brand preferences but thought generally stops there. But here are 5 things to consider about the environmental impact of your period:

1. Disposable pads take 500 – 800 years to break down

That’s right! Your pads are going to outlive you if they are made from synthetic fibres such as rayon as opposed to something made from 100% cotton. Not sure if this applies to the products you use? If you use brands like Stayfree, Carefree, Kotex, Playtex, Tampax or Always, you can be sure it does.

2. If you use tampons with a plastic applicator, it’s going to take even longer

The average woman goes through 11 000 tampons in her lifetime. Think of all that plastic that’s routinely filling up landfills and washing into the ocean, only to arrive up on our beaches again. A solution would be switching to a cardboard applicator or no applicator at all!

3. The average woman will create 136 kg of waste from disposable menstrual products through her lifetime

The best way to cut this down is to use reusable products such as cloth pads or menstrual cups. In addition to these being greener, they will save you heaps of money! Menstrual cups only need replacing about every 5 years – if you spend 12 dollars a month on pads, for example, you can save yourself up to $720!!!! Think of all the shoes / doughnuts / travel you could spend all that cash on.

4. Organic cotton doesn’t go through the same bleaching process as rayon fibres

That means fewer chemicals go into our environment, making them a greener option. To get rayon fibres that nice crisp white, the fibres are bleached with chlorine. Make sure you consider what you’re putting near or in your body, and the impact of heavy chemicals on your wellbeing.

5. Tampons create less waste than pads

58 percent less waste to be exact! If you aren’t comfortable with using reusable sanitary products, tampons are a greener option to go for.

There you have it! Next time you’re reaching for a new pack of pads at the supermarket, I hope some of these facts stick with you. But remember – the best pads you can buy are ones that help others! Be sure to check out our brand spotlight posts to support amazing social enterprises that benefit women worldwide.

Brand Spotlight: Eco Femme

Image: Arian Zwegers

One of the most shocking statistics I’ve come across when researching for this campaign is that 88% of girls in India use unsafe methods to manage their periods. The most common method is reusable old cloth, but women also resort to ashes, newspaper, dried leaves and husk to try and deal with menstruation. It’s so hard to even imagine how difficult something like that would be to deal with, combined with the immense stigma present regarding menstruation , which we have covered a little on the blog. That’s where a brand like Eco Femme comes in.

Why Love Them?

A female-led social enterprise (GIRL POWER!) based in India, Eco Femme’s goal is to create social change through “healthy, environmentally sustainable, culturally responsive and empowering” menstrual practices. In addition to producing and selling washable pads made from cloth, they also do amazing work providing menstrual education to adolescents! Just a couple of weeks ago we were talking about how simply sending pads is not enough , and here’s an amazing example of education to empower communities.

Eco Femme doesn’t aim to ‘break taboos’ but instead open discussion and create dialogue, to deconstruct cultural conditioning. They also aspire to engage with the plethora of cultural traditions that make India the dynamic, amazingly complex country that it is, rather than assuming one blanket approach will be successful. They acknowledge the importance of cultural practices in the creation & binding of community rather than dismissing them. Its so important to acknowledge that although cultural practices that affect quality of women should be revised, the answer is not and will never be dismissing how communities have functioned for often hundreds of years.

Whats on Offer?

Internationally, Eco Femme sells a range  of cloth panty liners, pads and are also our first featured brand to sell a reusable menstrual cup! The pads feature absorbent flannel layers inside with leakproof backing, and use press studs to attach around your underwear. They sell pads using a one-to-one program to donate the profits sold from the international pads into 4 reusable pads & a carry pouch for disadvantaged girls living in rural india!

For all those unsure about the concept of using cloth pads, did you know the average sanitary pad take 500-800 years to biodegrade completely? Thats an insane period of time (pun intended) if you consider how many pads a woman goes through in a lifetime. A menstrual cup is also a more green alternative than traditional pads or tampons, and if you’re not familiar it’s basically a silicone cup that sits inside the vagina, collecting your period blood. When it’s full, simply tip it into the loo & give it a rinse. It doesn’t have the same toxic shock risk as a tampon, so you can sleep with it in! They generally last for up to 5 years or so.

If you’re interested in learning more about Eco Femme check out this information on their pad to pad program, Facebook & twitter!

Are you a bloody expert?

Fact: we need to talk about periods more.

A few weeks ago I mentioned my period in passing to a friend. I thought the conversation was over until he stopped me – sheepishly – to ask “How much blood do you… you know… actually lose?”

I was quite surprised.  But I also had a thought – if a PhD educated, mid-20s Australian male didn’t have any idea of one of the most basic aspects of having a period, how little do others know?  For so many women (apart from me, obsessively researching periods and sanitary brands all the time, cough cough), a period isn’t something we really think about too often, it just happens and we deal with it.

A couple of days later, I had a similar experience. I was at work nannying (read: playing Mario Cart) when somehow the topic of periods came up. The little 9 year old girl I look after turned to me and started quizzing me about what it’s like to have a period: “does it hurt?!” “can you go swimming?” Her twin brother started to cut her off, seemingly a little embarrassed to be talking about periods whilst such an intense round of gaming was going on, but I made sure I took the time to answer her questions loud enough for them both to hear. I’m not sure what I would have answered before starting this campaign, but I sure was prepared!

So, in the spirit of knowledge, I encourage you go ahead and test your period knowledge on this little quiz I made, and see how much of a menstruation expert you are! Maybe you can even drop a fun fact or two to those around you, and share some bloody knowledge!

Alicia X

 

Brand Spotlight: BeGirl

When was the last time you thought of your crotch as empowering? I can honestly say that thought has never really crossed my mind. Lucky for us, BeGirl has a solution!

BeGirl is the brainchild of co-founder Diana Sierra, who saw first hand the issue menstruation can cause for so many women in Uganda whilst travelling there for a UN project and decided to tackle it head on.

Why Love Them?

With the aim of empowering by design, BeGirl uses a one to one model to tackle the issue of sanitation for women using a line of specially designed period panties. Each pair of underwear come with a leakproof bottom and permeable top, with a little open pocket that can be stuffed with whatever material girls have on hand to manage their period. For you, this could be loo paper if you’re out and about and unexpectedly start your cycle – for a girl in the developing world this could be any absorbent fibre. Genius!

The panties are designed from super thin, quick-dry material which addresses the issue of young women not having enough access to large amounts of clean water to clean menstruation supplies. As I’ve already mentioned, there are often social ramifications of hanging reusable pads out to dry & this was kept in mind when designing the panties, which take less than one hour to fully dry indoors.

So far around 17 thousand Be Girl products have been distributed in 23 countries ranging from Guatemala to Somalia. They also run a program called EmpowerBank, which allows you to write a letter to the girl who will receive the pair of panties you helped fund to foster human connection and let the girls know on a personal level that you are supporting them!

 

What’s on Offer?

At the moment, BeGirl has two generations of panties for your period pleasure, as well as a range of everyday undies or EmpowerPanties  on offer if you’re wanting to support the cause but don’t feel like period panties are the go for you!

You can check out the full range here & follow them on Facebook  or Twitter !

Let them have pads?!

 

Image: SuSanA

We live in a world of quick activism. People are vying for your attention constantly – like this page, pour some icy water over your head, buy a bracelet – we can solve this issue together! Solutions like these are so appealing – honestly who doesn’t want to change the world, and change it with minimal effort? Because I’ll the be first to admit that like every millennial I’m constantly a strange mix of busy, tired and lazy & I’m pretty sure everyone likes a quick solution to a problem.

I think the issue of women’s sanitation is one that is deceptively complex – it’s way too easy to jump to a simple conclusion to try and solve it. Girls miss school because they need pads? Let’s send ‘em pads! Problem solved!

Maybe not?

The issue with women’s sanitation in the developing world is that it is one that’s intrinsically linked with the social, political and cultural climate of the community that it’s affecting. It’s a health issue, but it’s one that hasn’t been solved not because it would be too difficult to send girls pads, but because simply sending menstruation supplies and doing nothing else is often just a band-aid solution. It’s not going to solve anything long term – and if the pads stop coming in? We’re back at square one.

There are so many complex factors that come into play when we talk about periods in developing communities. There’s a need for improved water & sanitation facilities – separate bathrooms for the genders, a place for girls to dispose of their pads thoughtfully, or wash & dry them safely, and running water so toilets can be used without the fear of leaving blood behind in the bowl. There’s the issue itself of menstruation supplies – do you provide disposable pads, with the knowledge of the environmental impact they may cause? If you provide reusable pads, do girls have the ability to wash these safely? If you provide menstrual cups, will women in the community accept them? Or can they physically even use them, especially when female genital mutilation is in many places still a widespread practice? 

Research points out that while there is still a need for improved facilities, there is also a great need for the development of culturally appropriate guidance for both the girls going through puberty themselves & for the communities they live within. One constant that seems to occur globally is a sense of shame that exists around menstruation. This often comes from cultural practices based on misinformation around periods, but is impossible to pinpoint into one specific issue that can be solved – girls are incorrectly told a plethora of things ranging from improper disposal of sanitary pads can lead to infertility & cancer, to entering kitchens during menstruation contaminates the space, to touching a family member whilst menstruating will bring bad omens. 

On a more positive note, there are so many social enterprises, non-profit organisations & NGOs that are working within specific countries and communities to solve this issue in terms of long term strategy. So although we can’t just send pads and solve it (it would be so lovely), we can work towards something much more sustainable, changing lives for the better. If you can support them just by switching the sanitary supplies you would buy normally, you can know that you’re supporting them in a long term manner too.

You can help change women’s rights today in other ways too – talk about your period! Educate those around you! Don’t use hushed expressions like ‘Aunt Flo is in town’ or ‘it’s my time’ – be bleeding proud! Because if we start to rewire your own thinking of menstruation, it has a flow on (no pun intended) effect to others.

Good luck & go change the world,

Alicia X