Campaigns may spell the beginning of the end for menstruation taboo

With various projects under way, women may soon see period stigma disappear, says David Thomson

Before long, Scotland will be the first part of the United Kingdom where women will have access free sanitary products.

Recently a pilot project was unveiled in Aberdeen, funded by the Scottish Government to the tune of £42,500, that will benefit at least 1,000 women and young girls in the city.

The six-month initiative across seven regeneration areas in Aberdeen is aimed at tackling “period poverty” which sees some women unable to afford sanitary protection. The Scottish Government pilot will target those women and young girls who are in a low-income group with free sanitary products.

Meanwhile on Monday, Labour MSP Monica Lennon launched a consultation on a members’ bill which, if successful, will introduce a system of free access to sanitary products in places like schools, colleges and universities in their toilets.

This is only the start of a yearlong campaign by Scottish Labour’s inequality spokesperson. A system that introduces access to sanitary products for women and girls is the beginning, but she also wants to go further by breaking down the barriers of the stigma that is associated with menstruation.

Despite menstruation being a natural process for women and girls across the world, discussing the menstrual process with their peers or with family members can be difficult. A poll commissioned by Yougov on behalf of Actionaid showed that nearly four in five UK