Menstruation while it being a natural process, does have a negative social stigma. In Africa this is worse than most countries. Not very many menstruation pads or tampon companies and in Africa and they are extremely expensive. Women and girls use basically anything; from rags, tree leaves or bark, old clothes, toilet paper, newspapers, feathers, cotton wool or cloths. People from poor rural communities don’t use anything.
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Since tampons and pads are very expensive, and old rags and clothes many give them infections many girls prostitute themselves to raise the money to buy pads. They often have unprotected sex because condoms are also very expensive.
Young girls are forced to skip school when they are menstruating because they will usually spoil their uniform. It is estimated that within the four years of high school could lose at the least 156 learning days, which is about 24 weeks of 144 weeks.
In African schools they only teacher the girls about menstruation and tell them to stay home. Many African boys have no idea about menstruation, because they don’t teach them because it is an “embarrassing, private and female only” matter.
On May 28, 2014, the world marked the first Menstrual Hygiene Day, it is to help to break the silence for something that is completely natural, and to help places like Africa for everyone to understand that menstruation is not a thing to stop your life, and that you need clean and new pads and tampons.
A Ugandan based social business made AFRIPADS, they are a washable cloth pad that you can wash and you can use up for a year. The Ministry of Education and Sports is trying to make sure that there are separate bathrooms for boys and girls, changing rooms they can bathe and change, and have access to clean water, extra pads and pain killers for menstrual pain.
Sources
Biriwasha, Masimba. "In Africa, Menstruation Can Be a Curse." RH Reality Check. 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. <http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2008/03/25/in-africa-menstruation-can-be-a-curse/>.
Lukale, Nelly. "Stand Up Tall and Break the Taboo of Menstruation in Africa."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 May 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nelly-lukale/stand-up-tall-and-break-t_b_5405523.html>.
Taylor, Leonie. "No Pads, No School: Girls' Education Going Down the Toilet."Think Africa Press. Thinkafricapress.com, 27 July 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. <http://thinkafricapress.com/health/girls-education-threatened-lack-sanitary-facilities>.
2 comments:
Being a feminist, I must say firstly how happy I am to see that you are shedding light on such an important issue in Africa. A woman’s pre-teenage and teenage years are so important. It is crucial that they feel empowered and strong as they experience changes with their body such as menstruation. It is equally important that they feel comfortable with their bodies and sexual health. In my opinion, it is a human right for all women to have access to proper sanitary products, and to be properly educated and supported with menstruation during their early womanhood. It is sad that some girls feel that their only option to make money, to purchase clean sanitary products, is to take part in prostitution.
I did not know that women in some parts of Africa have to use the resources they have instead of tampons and pads. It makes perfect sense though because, as you mentioned, sanitary products are wildly expensive.
Education is also a human right, in my opinion, so it is upsetting to me that many young women in these parts of Africa feel that they must skip school while on their menstrual cycles. I was shocked and angered to read that these females are told to stay home while on their period. On the other hand, I am very pleased to hear about Menstrual Hygiene Day! I had no idea this existed! I am also very pleased to hear about the AFRIPADS…what a great idea. I really enjoyed your blog. It was very informative and well organized.
Very nice work here uncovering, once again, very important issues. I am also given hope by what you also include. Fascinating work!
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