PHILLIPSON: DON'T SCRAP THE FREE PERIOD SCHEME FOR STATE SCHOOLS

Guest blog by our youth advisors, Millie Austin and Sophie Frear

The Department for Education is reportedly considering axing the government's Free Period Scheme tomorrow, when the Spring Statement is unveiled. The Free Period Scheme ensures all state schools have access to free period products so no student has to stay home due to having a lack of products.

We feel it is absolutely necessary to keep this scheme in place. Sex Ed Matters supports many schools who use this scheme and students have told us they rely on it to engage fully in education. We know 10% of girls missed school regularly because they didn't have access to period products in 2020, and that this statistics is likely higher today given the cost of living crisis which has increased poverty levels.

In this blog, Sex Ed Matters’ youth advisors Millie Austin and Sophie Frear offer a raw and honest insight into the ways periods are stigmatised in schools, how this has impacted their menstrual health, and ultimately why the Free Period Scheme is so important.

They also explore what you can do to tackle period stigma so the next generation can grow up confident about their bodies and respectful of others.

Sadly, Millie and Sophie’s stories aren’t unusual. But we can change this, together.

The reality of period stigma in schools

Both of us have experienced severe period pain. This can manifest in many ways, including nausea, regular migraines and kneeling over in pain. We’ve gone through it all, for years! But we shouldn’t have. Here’s what led us to experience this.

We both experienced similar period education in schools. While Sophie can’t remember having any period education whatsoever, Millie had only one class on menstruation in primary school (focusing on biology), from which the boys were entirely excluded. This caused a lot of problems for us all.

When students are segregated for their period education, it shrouds the subject in stigma immediately. It sent a clear message to all students: periods are secretive, mysterious and for the concern of women only. 

“​​In sixth form, I would always whip out my tampon and ask very loudly ‘can i go to the toilet??’ and people would think that was TMI! But now I realise why I did that. I was trying to normalise periods. I was trying to debunk the stigma” - Millie

This is bad for girls, because it makes them feel automatically self conscious about menstruating, and prevents them from talking about periods. How can we ask questions about periods or raise a concern about a menstrual health problem, when the topic is silenced?

Segregation is also bad for boys. It results in boys missing vital information about the human body. Subsequently, many boys grow up knowing extremely little about periods. This means they’re unable to support their family and friends who menstruate, including their daughters, which is particularly concerning in single-parent families when the father rates sole responsibility for their daughter.

“I remember someone joking about tampons being in yellow and green packaging because they’re lemon and lime flavour, and one of our male friends actually believed it!!!” - Millie

We’ve both also found that when boys aren’t taught about periods, the mystery which surrounds the subject causes them to make fun of it. We all fear the unknown, and when this applies to periods, it can escalate bullying.

“In school it was normal to be bullied because you’re on your period. Boys think it’s gross because they don’t understand it!” - Sophie

Our school environments taught us to stay quiet about periods. We both found it normal to lie about period pain. When we were unable to go to school or extracurricular clubs due to period pain, we would say we’re feeling unwell when really, we just didn’t feel comfortable making a public declaration about menstruation. 

This can be especially terrifying when you start your period and don’t really know what to do.

“When I had one of my first periods, I was at my dad’s house and I was too embarrassed to tell him or my step mom, so I waited two days until I went home to my mum and then I could ask her. I always thought I couldn’t talk to anyone about this who is either a man, like my dad, or anyone who isn’t my mum.” - Millie

The lasting impact

The fear of talking about periods is really hard to unlearn. It has definitely bled through into our work lives. Even now, we both feel discouraged from talking about periods in the workplace with our managers or colleagues, even if it is impacting our work and is a genuine barrier to productivity, which we need help overcoming.

“If the workplace is an equal place then why aren’t we taking women’s pain more seriously?” - Sophie

The workplace is full of people who have grown up with the same period stigma we did. We all facilitate that stigma without even thinking about it, by not talking about periods when we should.

What you can do to end period stigma

There is so much we can do to end period stigma. For example:

Workplaces

• Last year, Spain was the first country to write menstrual leave into law, to tackle period stigma and poverty. Since, many other countries have considered implementing a similar law to support female workers. Workplaces in the UK can get ahead of the curve and implement their own menstrual leave policies, before the legal system catches up. This can position them as forward thinking and inclusive companies for all workers and it can help them attract and retain talent.

• Provide free period products in bathrooms to tackle the stigma and supporting workers while they’re on their period.

• Encourage workers to talk to managers if period pain is impacting their ability to work. Equally, encourage managers to listen to workers about this topic, so they don’t feel embarrassed.

Parents

• Talk to your children about periods openly and honestly, and from an early age. This includes boys. Periods are a human experience, and they deserve to be educated about it, so they can support their menstruating friends and family.

• If you have multiple children of different genders, talk to them about periods together, so they get the same period education and feel able to talk about periods with everyone.

• Encourage your child to talk to you if they have any problems or concerns about periods. Their assumption may be that they can’t talk to you, so be really clear this is not the case.

• Encourage your child’s state school to opt into the government’s free period scheme, so they can provide free period products for students.

• Talk your children through the different period options available to them, including period pants and period tights. These products are all free in state schools.

Everyone

• Try not to hide your period products up your sleeve when you go to the bathroom. Having products is nothing to be ashamed of. Take your period product to the bathroom with pride! This is a real act of courage, which might inspire others to speak up about periods, too.

• If you don’t menstruate and feel you don’t know enough about periods, research it. There’s so much information online. Educate yourself and how to be a good ally. Also, if you talk to someone who does menstruate and they want to talk about their menstrual health, make sure to listen and don’t make fun of them as this can further engrain the stigma and shame.

Schools

• Teach students about periods altogether. Don’t separate boys and girls. The way we’re introduced to the topic makes a big difference. We need to be taught about periods in a fun, empowering way which doesn’t facilitate shame.

• Work with students - send them surveys to ask if they struggle with period stigma or poverty on campus. Then you can work together to find an appropriate solution which is right for them.

• Opt in to the government’s free period scheme, so you can provide free period products to students.

• Include in your anti-bullying policy a line on bullying someone due to menstruation. This will shine a light on an area of bullying that is often hidden in the dark. This also sends a clear message: periods are not silenced, and menstruation is not a justification for bullying.

To find out more about our youth advisory board, click here.

Feel free to get in touch by emailing us at info@sexedmatters.co.uk. You can also sign up to our newsletter here to stay up to date with our work.