We recently spoke with George, our intern for the week, to find out what questions teenage boys have about periods. This process opened our eyes to the inconsistency of education across genders when it comes to people’s bodies and especially periods. 72% of boys have never been taught anything about the menstrual cycle and three quarters of children aren’t satisfied with the education on periods they receive. Typically, the details of the topic are often kept for when the boys have been scurried out the room and let outside early to play.
This evasive attitude towards period education is damaging for our society and the way in which girls and boys, and eventually women and men, interact. We think it’s high time that children are given the same level of education in all areas, including the menstrual cycle.
Understanding the science
One of the most obvious reasons period education is important for everyone regardless of gender is to gain a scientific understanding of how bodies work. Getting to grips with what the menstrual cycle is and knowing the implications of it. Understanding fertility, pregnancy and periods, will normalise what these are and what they mean. Teaching boys how periods and the menstrual cycle works helps them better understand the importance and practicalities of safe sex and contraception, which could help prevent unwanted pregnancies when they are older.
It will also better equip them for understanding problems and issues that can be experienced. For example, what period products are available, or how to reduce cramps. This will be handy when they will encounter periods directly and indirectly throughout their lives. Whether it be with family members, partners, colleagues or complete strangers – many of us menstruate! We don’t know about you, but boys knowing what they can do to help ease our pain or which period products we might need them to pick up from the store goes a long way in our books.
Reducing stigma
Ok, close your eyes for a second and imagine a world where periods weren’t a taboo. Did you see it? Was it bliss? For as long as we can remember, periods have been a punchline for the boys in school, and if you’re really unlucky, men in our adult lives also view periods with disgust. Over 90% of girls worry about going to school during their time of the month. Contributing to this is boys who lack understanding of periods and resort to humour, poking fun at girls with period-related jokes and snigg*rs. These jokes might seem harmless, but they perpetuate shame in young girls. This can lead to girls missing school and sacrificing their education, potentially stunting their career opportunities and self-image.
Tearing down the stigma around periods starts with education. Teaching both boys and girls about the way periods work and opening the topic up for constructive discussion is essential for clearing any of the common misconceptions, like that they are gross or that girls are in control of their bleeding.
The environment
Period products are huge contributors to the tons of plastic waste created daily – one pack of conventional period pads contains the equivalent amount of plastic as 5 plastic bags! Educating boys about periods and the different types of period products available won’t just help to improve communication and beat the stigma, it could also help to save the planet. Discussing reusable or plastic free period product options in the classroom is something that is currently missing for girls as well as boys. As plastic waste becomes more of a pressing issue for our planet and its ecosystems, it should be made a priority to help girls understand what they’re putting in their bodies and landfill, and to help boys support girls in their fight for access to periods without plastic.
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Point proven
In some areas of the world, the point is being proved that involving boys in period education helps to remove stigma, better educate all genders, and build on the sense of solidarity. Not only are boys in Kenya already being taught about periods in full, they are also being trained to educate others on the topic, smashing the stigma at its core! Dandelion Africa is a non-profit providing support and education for girls and women through the engagement of over 3,000 boys and men on a variety of topics, including periods.
Do you think boys should learn more about periods? Let us know in the comments!
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FAQs
Girls and boys need reliable information about periods. So make sure you talk to your sons, too. For example, if your 4-year-old sees a tampon and asks what it's for, you could say, "Women bleed a little from their vagin* every month. It's called a period.
Is it okay to tell boys about periods? ›
Before you start talking about periods, it is a good idea to teach your boy about the differences between boys' and girls' bodies. Once they understand how boys' and girls' bodies are different, you can talk about the changes that girls go through at puberty including periods.
Why is it important to study the menstrual cycle for boys? ›
Discuss periods with your sons because:
It helps them understand girls more, and what they go through every month. It makes them understand that the changes happening with their own bodies are normal, too, and a part of life.
Should guys know about periods? ›
Even though men don't get periods, they're still affected by them. It helps to understand some key facts about menstruation for the important relationships in your life. It's OK to have sex when a woman is on her period. But there's still a risk of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
Why is it important for males to understand menstruation? ›
Men and boys are able to understand how the menstrual cycle works and how women and girls feel at the different stages so that they can sensitize, make informed decisions, provide emotional and financial support, and link them to appropriate health providers.
What if a girl tells a boy about her periods? ›
If you are a guy and a girl tells you about her period, it means that she has an incredible amount of trust in you. She trusts that you wouldn't just go blabbering about it to others. She trusts that you will understand the situation she is in and will try to help her in anyway possible.
How to educate men about periods? ›
Period stigma can be eliminated by educating half the next generation. Teen boys should learn about gender differences in mind and body. Menstruation is an unavoidable part of childbirth, and so boys must view it positively. Finally, it's best to use simple terms when talking to boys about menstruation.
How do I teach my son about periods? ›
You could explain menstruation by saying: As you grow into a woman, your body is becoming ready to have a baby. Every month or so, your ovaries start releasing hormones that cause the lining of your uterus (or womb that holds the baby) to build up because it is ready for a fertilized egg.
What percent of boys know about periods? ›
In contrast, boys are well informed about basic biological facts of menstruation (scoring 60% on a knowledge quiz, not statistically different from the girls) and have received information from school curricula and health workers.
What grade do kids learn about menstruation? ›
Third to Fifth Grade: Kids in later elementary school, from third to fifth grade, will learn what the menstrual cycle is and what kinds of physical and emotional changes happen to someone during their period.
Although men will not bleed, nor will they experience all of the same symptoms as women, these hormonal shifts can have some pretty notable side effects, especially with mood and irritability. Some call it the “man period” others call it Irritable Male Syndrome, either way, it can be quite similar to a woman's PMS.
What do guys have instead of periods? ›
IMS (Irritable Male Syndrome). This can be attributed to men experiencing a drop in testosterone, the hormone that gives them their mojo. Their IMS can happen at anytime, as testosterone levels fluctuate during the day, but they tend to be highest during the morning and drop as the day goes on.
Is it OK to tell boys about periods? ›
Talking to boys about periods is a key part of parenting. At first, it may feel awkward, but having open conversations will help them understand that periods are normal, healthy and nothing for girls to be ashamed of.
Should a boy ask a girl if she's on her period? ›
Are you ever around women who seem frustrated, upset or irritated? Have you ever asked one of them if she was on her period or perhaps been tempted to inquire? Take it from me: Don't. Presuming that female reproductive organs make women behave irrationally is rude and sexist.
How to explain bad period cramps to a man? ›
But let's give it a try: It's almost like someone is holding and squeezing your organs from the inside. The pain can vary greatly, but it's common to experience a sensation of the uterus contracting, accompanied by shooting pains or a dull ache.
Should dads know about periods? ›
Dads talking with daughters about periods doesn't have to be taboo or awkward! Be supportive, patient, and open to starting the period conversation.
