Breaking down taboos MENSTRUATION
OCTOBER HAS been declared Period Awareness Month by Shelly-Ann Weeks, author, activist, and founder and executive director of the HerFlow Foundation as an extension of Period Awareness Week,October 18-24, and Period Awareness Day, October 24, which Weeks also established in 2016.
“The period is a natural part of being a female human, and it is treated by society as an illness. Many women have had to suffer shame and stigma, and it’s time for that to stop,” Weeks said when asked why it’s necessary to recognise Period Awareness Month.
According to the author, there are myths and misunderstandings about the period that negatively affect the overall quality of life for many Jamaican woman and girls.
“So many of us are still taught that having a period makes us unclean, and it translates in our everyday life because there are just certain things that are not allowed. For example, it’s simply not polite to even mention the word ‘period’ in social spaces. Also, unlike so many other ailments, painful symptoms from the period are not considered an acceptable excuse for being late for or even absent from work,” she explained.
Throughout the month of October, there has been a calendar of activities aimed at addressing the stigma and shame through education, tackling period poverty in public schools, and sparking a national conversation about periods. The activities include:
Supported by the United States Embassy through their International Woman’s Day Grant, the tour will be visiting 25 schools (over six parishes) to conduct presentations about puberty, periods and personal hygiene, as well as to donate products to the students. This tour is executed in partnership with LASCO Curves, Stayfree, Carefree, and Cubbies Wipes.
FREE PERIODS JAMAICA – #ENDPERIODPOVERTYJA (OCTOBER 24-NOV)
A public-service announcement created to End Period Poverty (inability to afford menstrual products)
Public Service Announce is created to get the public’s participation in providing sanitary products for the girls and women who are directly affected by period poverty. It will be aired on TV and online through social media and Google ads. Confirmed drop-off points: I JMMB branches
I Kingston Bookshop branches
I Golden Closet, Mall Plaza
I Pepperwood Jerk – Kingston and Portmore
I Buzzers Portmore
PERIOD AWARENESS DAY (OCTOBER 24)
Created to spark national conversation and engagement around periods.
Flash mob at the Half-Way Tree Bus Park – 7:00am-9:00am
Distribution of over 300 period kits to women and schoolgirls
Twitter chat – The role of Government in female reproductive health
HEALTHY PELVIS CONFERENCE (OCTOBER 27)
The Healthy Pelvis Conference is a comprehensive look at female reproductive health issues and an exploration of treatment options, from surgery to lifestyle and everything inbetween, for conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS and painful periods. Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Venue: The Jamaica Pegasus hotel Featuring informative presentations by: Informative presentations by
Dr Michael Abrahams, OBGYN
Dr Karen carpenter, clinical sexologist Tehuti Maat, nutritionist Shelly-Ann Weeks, author, activist Panel Discussion
MINI EXPO
Admission: $3,500 presold, $5,000 at the door.
Tickets available at Golden Closet, Village Plaza and www.firstinlineja.com.
HerFlow Foundation was established to educate young women and girls about female reproductive health and rights through education and mentorship. According to Weeks, Period Awareness Month is only recognised locally, but as the momentum grows, it will be recognised internationally.
For further information about Period Awareness Month, please email
embraceherflow@gmail.com, visit www.embraceherflow.com or call 876798-0820.