Menstruation, a natural and essential biological process, has often been a subject clouded by stigma, silence, and even shame in many societies. However, literature has begun to shed light on this topic, especially when it intersects with two critical issues: menstrual hygiene and period poverty. Through stories, poetry, essays, and research, writers have not only broken the taboo but also sparked necessary conversations about the challenges women and girls face globally. Let’s explore how literature helps us understand and address these issues.
Breaking the Silence: The Role of Literature in Menstrual Awareness
For centuries, literature has been a tool for giving voice to marginalized experiences, and menstruation is no exception. Historically, menstruation was rarely discussed openly, even in fiction or non-fiction. But as awareness has grown, writers have embraced this subject, using their platforms to share stories that empower women and girls, raise awareness, and debunk harmful myths.
Take, for example, the works of contemporary feminist authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Rupi Kaur. Kaur’s famous Instagram post featuring a photograph of herself with a period stain went viral and sparked debates around menstrual shame and normalizing periods. Kaur, who writes openly about periods in her poetry collections like Milk and Honey, is one of many writers using literary platforms to push back against the stigma that surrounds menstruation.
Literary Advocacy for Menstrual Hygiene
Menstrual hygiene is a crucial theme in literature, especially in contexts where access to sanitary products, clean water, and private spaces is a luxury. In many developing countries, girls miss school or drop out altogether because they do not have the resources to manage their periods with dignity. Novels, essays, and articles have emerged as critical tools in shedding light on these barriers.
In Anita Diamant’s historical novel The Red Tent, menstruation is a central theme around which a community of women gather, celebrate, and support one another. Although set in a biblical context, the novel subtly critiques how modern society has moved away from communal support for menstruation, leaving many girls and women to fend for themselves, particularly in places where menstrual hygiene is not prioritized.
Essays in books like Period Power by Nadya Okamoto offer a blend of personal narrative and research, providing insight into the real-life consequences of poor menstrual hygiene. Okamoto writes about how menstruation impacts education, health, and overall well-being. Her work highlights the importance of access to safe sanitary products as a fundamental human right.
Understanding Period Poverty Through Stories
Period poverty when individuals lack access to menstrual products and facilities is another issue tackled by writers. This experience affects millions of girls and women worldwide, often leading to physical and emotional hardships. Writers have used fiction and non-fiction to illustrate the daily struggles of period poverty, bringing attention to a deeply rooted gender inequality.
Marni Sommer, a global health scholar, has written extensively about menstrual health in low-income countries. Her work often features in research-based narratives, highlighting how period poverty exacerbates gender disparities in education and employment. These narratives make the invisible struggles visible, driving policy change and global conversations around this issue.
In fiction, authors are beginning to create characters who grapple with period poverty, offering readers a window into this hidden reality. Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, in her book Kintu, touches on the challenges of menstruation in a Ugandan setting, where lack of access to sanitary products affects girls’ ability to attend school regularly. Through such characters and plotlines, readers not only empathize but also become advocates for change.
Poetry as a Powerful Medium
Poetry has been an especially powerful medium in discussing menstruation, menstrual hygiene, and period poverty. Poets have found creative ways to express the pain, frustration, and pride surrounding periods, making these emotions accessible to a wide audience. The poetry collection The Moon Within by Aida Salazar explores a young girl’s coming-of-age story, blending menstruation with themes of identity and body acceptance. In this book, menstruation is not hidden but is instead celebrated as a rite of passage, encouraging young readers to embrace rather than fear their bodies.
Poetry also plays an important role in raising awareness about period poverty. In the anthology Period, which features a wide range of poets, menstruation is explored from diverse perspectives, addressing how lack of access to menstrual products leads to feelings of shame and exclusion. The intimate nature of poetry makes it an ideal vehicle for conveying these personal experiences.
The Intersection of Menstrual Hygiene and Feminist Literature
Feminist literature has long addressed the politics of the body, and menstrual hygiene is no exception. Writers like Gloria Steinem have written provocative essays that challenge the way society views menstruation. In her famous essay, If Men Could Menstruate, Steinem imagines a world where men menstruate, flipping the script to show how societal power structures affect how we view natural processes. Her satirical essay highlights how the taboo around menstruation is deeply rooted in gender inequality.
The feminist movement, both in literature and activism, has increasingly called for period equity the idea that no one should be disadvantaged by their period. Books like “The Managed Body” by Chris Bobel delve into the politics of menstrual health and how the commodification of menstrual products often overlooks the needs of marginalized populations, contributing to period poverty.
Bridging the Gap: Solutions and Hope Through Literary Engagement
What is heartening about the literature on menstrual hygiene and period poverty is the solutions it proposes. Writers and activists advocate for better education, policy changes, and affordable access to menstrual products. Campaigns like #EndPeriodPoverty have gained global traction, fueled by books, blogs, and social media that call for action.
Literature doesn’t just describe problems; it also proposes solutions. For instance, Rose George, in her book The Big Necessity, examines sanitation and menstrual hygiene management in various countries, highlighting efforts that have worked and areas where improvement is needed. Such works provide a blueprint for addressing the issue, offering hope for a future where periods are no longer a source of shame or hardship.
