Latest news with #menstruation
Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Periods aren't taboo any more. Can we please stop talking about them?
For a moment, I thought I might have picked up an old Telegraph by mistake. In a house awash with ancient, yellowing newspapers, it has been known to happen, and there's no way the headline I'm reading can be current. ' Not everyone who menstruates is a woman, says toiletry firm.' Bunzl – Britain's biggest toiletry supplier – might as well have puffed out its chest and announced: 'the world is flat'. That's how embarrassingly outdated its heroic little outburst is. Because – oh dear, how to put this? – there was a Supreme Court ruling, back in April, that made headlines around the world? No, not ringing any bells? It involved the legal definition of a woman and prompted companies across the UK – big companies, you know, like Barclays – either to implement immediate changes (such as barring transgender women from female bathrooms) or urgently review their wording, approach and practices. Oblivious, apparently, to any of this, Bunzl has blundered on. As part of a campaign designed to stop the stigma of talking about menstruation, the supplier would like to stress, again, that periods are 'not inherently feminine' (and I want to root out every staff member involved in that phrasing, sit them down, and get them to explain what they think the word 'inherently' means). Bunzl would like to urge us to 'be respectful of everyone's different experiences of their period. We can all empathise with the struggles that come with bleeding, even if they are different for each of us.' If you think that's a head-scratcher, have a read of the company's new, inclusive language guide, released to promote eco-friendly sanitary products by provider Grace and Green. A few of the common terms to be banished are 'sanitary', 'hygiene' and 'feminine products'. These should be replaced with the blanket term 'period products' – all together now – to avoid offence. I have an idea: why don't we stop talking about periods in any way, shape or form? Crazy notion, but I'm throwing it out there. Why don't we give the whole country a desperately needed break from menstruation? And while we're there, why not treat ourselves to a little reprieve from the menopause (otherwise known as the stopping of periods)? Because while I realise that dictionary definitions may not be Bunzl's forte, you cannot use the word 'stigma' about something that nobody ever stops talking about. You cannot pretend that a topic exhaustively covered across the media, a subject people now write bestselling books and Oscar-winning documentaries about, is taboo, outlawed, unmentionable. Periods are now whimsically mentioned by actresses in interviews. Global female music stars like Katy Perry will share what it was like to perform on the first day of her period in award acceptance speeches. Radio talk show hosts will offer up details about their cramps, and, (pet peeve) at any given opportunity, female characters in TV dramas will be shown having their period. How bold! How liberating! How crucial in normalising this long-shamed bodily function! To campaign for people to talk more about periods is a bit like saying: 'Can we please have a conversation about Meghan Markle?' While we're discussing the meaning of words, the opposite of 'talking about' something is not 'shaming', 'censoring' or 'silencing'. There are plenty of bodily functions – belonging to each and every gender, no squabbling please – that we choose not to talk about in daily life, largely because it would make for a searingly banal conversation. Do you see anyone trying to start a campaign to get people talking about trapped wind? No. But I'm sure it won't be long. The American science fiction writer Robert Heinlein came out with some brilliant quotes, but my favourite is this one: 'Each generation thinks it invented sex; each generation is totally mistaken.' In that single sentence, he captures so much: the narcissism of youth; the hilariously pompous conviction that everyone who came before us was ignorant and misguided – and that we are the only true trailblazers. One or two generations today seem to think that they invented periods, which no woman I know wants to talk about, no man either, and to suggest that trans people don't have better topics of discussion is, I think, pretty damn patronising. So shall we just go back to talking about sex? At least that was fun.
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
The kindness of strangers: when my period arrived, a lifeguard quietly put a towel around me
It wasn't my first period, but it was within the first year of getting my period. I was only 13 years old and, when you first start menstruating, you never know when your next period is going to arrive. I was away on holiday with my family, playing in the hotel pool with some new friends I'd just met. There was definitely a boy there I fancied. At one point, I hopped out of the pool and suddenly this lifeguard, who must have only been 15 or 16 himself, walked straight up, put a towel around me and said really quietly in my ear, 'You need to go to the bathroom.' I looked down and realised why: my period had started. That was it. He said nothing more. Not even my twin sister, who was also in the pool, had any idea what had happened. He was that subtle about it. If he hadn't done that, it likely would have destroyed my entire holiday. You can just imagine the humiliation of having met a group of cool teenagers you're trying to impress and suddenly you've got blood running down your legs. This was the 1980s – they would have pointed at me and laughed! I will always be grateful to that lifeguard. I've always wished that I could go online and find this boy to thank him – or thank his mother more than anything, as she clearly taught him perfect manners. He somehow knew not to make a big deal of it, and how not to embarrass me. It was just done so beautifully. I now have two sons myself and I've always said to them, if you ever see a stain on a girl's dress, take off your jumper, put it around her waist, tell her she needs to go to the bathroom and never mention it again. That day also showed me that kindness doesn't have to be big, sweeping 'look at me' gestures – the smallest acts can be the most impactful. From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Menstruating women should make standard haj intention, not conditional, says Perlis deputy mufti
MAKKAH, June 1 (Bernama) -- Female pilgrims who are menstruating do not need to make a conditional intention (niat ihram) when beginning their Haj rituals. Instead, they should make the standard intention for Haj to ensure their worship remains valid according to Islamic law. Perlis deputy mufti and Haj advisory chief, Tajul Urus Abdul Halim, said making a conditional intention is not encouraged, as it may affect the validity or completeness of the Haj. 'Women are advised not to make a conditional intention because the Haj journey in the Holy Land spans several days, so it is best to avoid doing so. 'If a woman makes a conditional intention, there is a risk her Haj may be considered invalid or incomplete if the condition attached to the intention is mistakenly believed to have been fulfilled.' he said. Tajul Urus added that making the intention (niat) is one of the main pillars of Haj and must be done either when leaving the accommodation or at the miqat (the designated place for ihram), regardless of whether the woman is menstruating or not. 'If a woman does not make the intention for Haj, she cannot perform the pilgrimage. Therefore, she must make the intention first, even if she is menstruating, as menstruation does not invalidate the Haj intention,' he said. He explained that menstruating women may still perform all the essential and obligatory rituals - such as standing (wukuf) in Arafah, spending the night (mabit) in Muzdalifah and Mina, and performing the stoning of the jamrah, except for the tawaf, which must be postponed until they are in a state of purity. Tajul Urus also clarified that pilgrims performing Haj and offering a sacrificial animal (qurban) are not bound by the recommended etiquettes followed by those performing qurban alone. 'They are not required to avoid actions such as cutting nails or removing hair, as these etiquettes are only encouraged for those offering a sacrifice but not performing Haj,' he said. MAKKAH, June 1 — Female pilgrims who are menstruating do not need to make a conditional intention (niat ihram) when beginning their Haj rituals. Instead, they should make the standard intention for Haj to ensure their worship remains valid according to Islamic law. Perlis deputy mufti and Haj advisory chief, Tajul Urus Abdul Halim, said making a conditional intention is not encouraged, as it may affect the validity or completeness of the Haj. 'Women are advised not to make a conditional intention because the Haj journey in the Holy Land spans several days, so it is best to avoid doing so. 'If a woman makes a conditional intention, there is a risk her Haj may be considered invalid or incomplete if the condition attached to the intention is mistakenly believed to have been fulfilled.' he said. Tajul Urus added that making the intention (niat) is one of the main pillars of Haj and must be done either when leaving the accommodation or at the miqat (the designated place for ihram), regardless of whether the woman is menstruating or not. 'If a woman does not make the intention for Haj, she cannot perform the pilgrimage. Therefore, she must make the intention first, even if she is menstruating, as menstruation does not invalidate the Haj intention,' he said. He explained that menstruating women may still perform all the essential and obligatory rituals - such as standing (wukuf) in Arafah, spending the night (mabit) in Muzdalifah and Mina, and performing the stoning of the jamrah, except for the tawaf, which must be postponed until they are in a state of purity. Tajul Urus also clarified that pilgrims performing Haj and offering a sacrificial animal (qurban) are not bound by the recommended etiquettes followed by those performing qurban alone. 'They are not required to avoid actions such as cutting nails or removing hair, as these etiquettes are only encouraged for those offering a sacrifice but not performing Haj,' he said. He further advised pilgrims to make proper preparations before starting their journey, including trimming nails and attending to personal grooming, to ensure comfort throughout the Haj. — Bernama
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Periods aren't only for women, says Britain's biggest toiletries supplier
Periods are ' not inherently feminine ', according to Britain's biggest toiletry supplier. Bunzl, the major distribution company, said 'not all people who menstruate are women' in a campaign designed to stop the stigma of talking about periods. As a result, it has now been accused of denying biological reality and 'pandering to trans activists'. Bunzl's inclusive language guide was released to promote eco-friendly sanitary products by provider Grace and Green. It suggests common terms such as 'sanitary', 'hygiene' and 'feminine products' should be replaced with the term 'period products' to avoid offence. It also advises against only referring women or girls, because 'non-binary people, transgender men and intersex people may also menstruate', and suggests providing period products and disposal bins in gender-neutral locations and all public lavatories. 'Most of all, be respectful of everyone's different experiences of their period,' it adds. 'We can all empathise with the struggles that come with bleeding, even if they are different for each of us.' Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at the Sex Matters charity, called the language 'offensive' and accused the guide authors of 'erasing women and girls from the female-only experience of menstruation'. 'The only way that Grace and Green's products could truly be 'gender-neutral' is if its product designers had considered male anatomy when designing sanitary pads and tampons, which is clearly not the case,' she said. 'Coy phrases like 'feminine products' or 'feminine hygiene' may be a bit old-fashioned, but suppliers like Grace & Green and retailers like Boots and Aldi openly admit that their motivation to replace them with 'period products' isn't a desire to be more frank about women's biological reality – it's about denying that biological reality altogether. 'This type of nonsense is blatant pandering to trans activists, who demand that everyone else plays along with the farcical idea that men who imagine themselves to be female can have periods, and that women who imagine themselves to be male are 'men who menstruate'.' Supermarkets have changed policy A number of high street giants have changed their policy on the products in recent years. In 2022, Aldi followed Asda by replacing its 'feminine hygiene' signage with 'period products'. Richard Shuttleworth, Aldi's then diversity and inclusion director, said at the time: 'We are pleased to have renamed the category both in-store and online to better reflect how shoppers feel about period products.' Earlier the same year, Boots carried out the same rebrand. A spokesman for Grace and Green told The Telegraph they stand by the statement 'Not all women menstruate, and not all people who menstruate are women'. They continued: 'This is a simple recognition of biological and lived realities. Some women don't menstruate – for example due to menopause, contraception, pregnancy or medical conditions – and some people who are not women, including trans men, non-binary, and intersex individuals, do. 'Denying this erases entire communities and contributes to the marginalisation of people who already face significant barriers to healthcare, dignity, and access to essential products. 'Acknowledging this diversity is not about erasing women – it's about expanding understanding.'
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Why are we still hiding periods in 2025?
First periods are a universal rite of passage for girls. Biologically, menarche indicates the body's preparedness to ovulate and eventually reproduce. However, the social and cultural significance of this milestone can vary significantly. In some cultures, like the Maoris', a menstruating girl represents the survival and longevity of the heritage and bloodline. Among some Indigenous people of the Americas, the first bleed is the moment when the initiation into the community happens, embodying spiritual connection. In China, menstruation is believed to hold vast potential for rejuvenating one's vital essence. Among Muslims, attitudes towards menstruation vary greatly, shaped by cultural heritage or by the disconnect from cultural lineages caused by colonisation, migration and conflict. For example, in the United States, where I am from, I can name communities that regularly host elaborate period parties – celebratory galas for girls who are coming of age – much like the early generations of Muslims in Medina. And in the same country, I know of communities where women still conceal the fact that they are menstruating by pretending to fast and pray in Ramadan. To bridge these dissonant understandings of menstruation among Muslim women, we can seek inspiration and guidance from the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad's biography. They offer a blueprint for reparative and positive period education, which can be a vital tool for ending period shame and abolishing period poverty. In the Islamic tradition, menstruation enters the discourse as a determinant of rite and ritual. The Quran dictates that menstruating women are relieved of the obligation to fast in Ramadan or perform the five prescribed daily prayers. Sexual intercourse is forbidden at this time as well as circumambulating the Kaaba while performing the Hajj in Mecca. However, to understand what menstruation meant to the early Muslim community, we can look to the Prophetic tradition, which illustrates how the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) interacted with menstruating women in his life. There is the example of Umayyah bint Qays, a girl who rode to battle with the women of her tribe seated on the Prophet Muhammad's animal. Her first period appeared unannounced, soiling her garments and the Prophet Muhammad's luggage, which she was seated beside. Upon noticing Umayyah shifting in her seat with awkward discomfort, the Prophet Muhammad asked if she had menstrual bleeding, to which she responded affirmatively. She was then gently instructed by her Prophet to take water and salt to clean herself as well as the soiled articles. When the battle concluded victoriously for the Muslims, a necklace was taken from the spoils of war and placed on Umayyah's neck by the Prophet himself. She treasured this gift, neither removing it during her life, nor allowing it to be removed from her body in death. Ease in discussing and acknowledging menstruation is also evident in interactions between the Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha. Expressions of tenderness abounded between the two while she was on her period. She relates that when sharing a meal and drinking vessel, her husband would place his mouth on the place where she ate and drank from. During her menstruation, he would also lay on her lap while reciting the Quran and express intimacy through cuddling and closeness. During the singular Hajj pilgrimage performed by the Prophet Muhammad after a year of anticipation and longing to fulfil this rite, the Prophet found Aisha despondent. He lovingly inquired if she was menstruating and comforted her by affirming, 'This is a matter decreed for the daughters of Adam.' All of these examples demonstrate that per the Islamic tradition, menstruation is not a cause for despair, sorrow or embarrassment. While we have the Prophet's example to look up to and learn from, the reality is that perceptions of menstruation are often shaped by others around us. Organisations, institutions and schools play a role in menstrual health awareness by offering menstrual health education, access to period products and hygienic facilities for girls to use to change their menstrual products. However, most of our ideas about menstruation come before a lesson in school. The cycle we know first is the cycle that brought us into being – the bleeding of our mother. How she feels, shifts and lives with her own monthly period serves as an introductory lesson, setting expectations to share or conceal, to slow down or push through, to rejoice or to lament. It is a well-known adage among Muslims that mothers are a child's first madrassa, or school. This not only applies to information and ethics but also body literacy, roles, responsibilities, self-care and self-esteem. As such, mothers have a pivotal role in preparing girls for puberty and menstruation. Every parent and guardian should regard preparing girls for their first periods as observing their human rights. Without this instruction, girls can turn to social media or their peers, neither of which are reliable sources of menstrual health information. Every family has an opportunity to break the cycle of period shame by starting within their own home. Very often it is up to them to decide how their daughter experiences her first period. She could be a girl who discovers a red stain on her underwear, and, unprepared for this moment, can slip into emotions connected with other encounters with blood – harm, injury and pain. She might conceal this discovery by rolling wads of tissue paper or socks into her underwear, afraid to tell anyone. Or she can be a girl who is prepared for this moment and feels a giddy excitement and intrigue when it comes. She can be delighted to be joining the sisterhood of older sisters, cousins, aunts and mothers who had already told her this day would come. In both cases, the people around her shape her beliefs and expectations of this moment. She could just be shown where the pads are and told to keep her period as a shameful secret. Or she could be celebrated, recognised and supported by her family. On this Menstrual Hygiene Day, let us agree that concealing menstruation serves no one – neither the girls and women who bleed nor the boys and men who care for them. To improve access to menstrual health resources and abolish period poverty, we must remember a key point: Policies are made by people. They are made by women who were once girls who were shamed or celebrated and men who were once boys either obliviously unaware or consciously educated about the monthly reality of their female peers. By reviving Prophetic examples of showing tenderness to menstruating girls and women, sharing gifts at menarche and acknowledging menstruation as a divinely designed and life-giving process, we have an opportunity to heal the culture that shapes society and the individuals who form families. We can and must take action towards ending period shame and ensuring menstrual equity for all. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.
