Menstrual Cycle Analysis

In Liza Neal’s words “Having your period makes you apart of the club. It may not be the club you wanted to join, but hey, a club is a club.” Menstruation is a significant stage of puberty. Though it may be considered inconvenient and embarrassing, it is one of the various physical signs that a girl is taking on into becoming a woman. It can be confusing, just like the other changes that occur with puberty. There are some girls that can’t wait to start their periods. However, others may feel intimidated or anxious. In-fact, many girls don’t have complete knowledge of the woman’s reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle. As a result, this can make the process seem even more mysterious. At 11 years old, I recall
Lunapads has provided girls and women in developing countries with cloth pads and underwear, so they can achieve daily tasks comfortably during their period, a program called Pads4Girls. According to their history, they became proactive with this issue once they were contacted by activist Isabelle Wright. It came to their attention that there were girls and women that missed out on school and work because of their periods to avoid discomfort and mockery. They “had little or nothing to help them manage their menses. As mentioned, disposable menstrual products are impossibly expensive in many communities. This is known as the Menstrual Health Management (MHM) issue. Due to the lack of access to menstrual products, millions of girls in developing nations are affected. According to Pads4Girls, there is as many as 10% of school aged girls that miss school because of their periods. This is relatively 20% of their education that is being missed. Consequently, the effect of such absence can lead to the probability of “dropping out, earlier marriage and pregnancy as well as limiting career options. (Pads4Girls) Pads4Girls proposes a solution which is to “provide school girls with washable menstrual pads and underwear that will last four years” A girl should not be punished by missing out school and other opportunities because of
This is an issue, considering that half the population has menstrual periods. Walter is an activist who is determined to improve hygiene in developing or poor nations. She works with WASH advocates (Water, sanitation, and hygiene) on a mission to go across the developing world to support millions of girls with their difficulties managing their period. However, Walter emphasizes the struggles of addressing the problem in hope for change. “Even level-headed experts on poverty tend to get squeamishness when the talk turns to periods.” (Walter) Furthermore, in behalf of the “awkward” talk over menstrual hygiene, global health and development advocates discounted the subject for decades. Walter considers that her peers often conclude this is a feminist matter or something that women should keep private. The good news is that awareness is growing rapidly. Being that, there are many non-profit and for-profit companies eager to develop affordable alternatives. In fact, Diana Sierra, founder of BeGirl, the company that invented a bright purple underwear that is waterproof. This underwear is made out of bamboo fibers that makes its safe and easy to manufacture. Despite the ongoing obstacles, Walter and Sierra are two women that resist judgement in order to pursuit the goal to improve