BREAKING NEWS. Period.

Here at The Fix we’re proud to be part of a revolution against the stigma of menstruation.

Around the world women are refusing to be silenced and shamed about their periods. 

We’ll bring you updates about global menstruation practices and breakthroughs providing women and girls with the dignity, self-respect and self-confidence they deserve. 

In New Zealand, a co-founder of a period-proof underwear company is a finalist at this year's Māori Businesswomen Awards. Entrepreneur, Michele Wilson, developed the range of comfy reusable period absorbent undies, thongs, boxer briefs and swimwear that can hold the same amount of blood as two tampons. The driving force behind the company? To teach her daughters that periods, or ikura, are not shameful.

The name of the company, AWWA, is empowering. It’s derived from the Māori word awa meaning river or flow. Māori referred to their period as te awa atua - the divine river.

In far-western Nepal there has been a recent effort to end the taboo of menstruation. Here, oppressive exclusion practices are rampant, including Chhaupadi, where menstruating women and girls are banished to period huts.

According to the Kathmandu Post: “Due to such discriminations, many women have lost their lives to smoke, wild animal attacks, snake bites, extreme cold, lack of oxygen and carbon dioxide poisoning in menstrual huts.”
Such practices are under the spotlight. A recent three-day “Traditional Healers’ Conclave for Dignified Menstruation” brought together traditional healers, elected officials, as well as adolescent girls and women. The outcome?  A commitment to ensuring equal treatment of young girls and women on all days while menstruating and not menstruating. Watch this space… 

In the United States, many women are deleting their period-tracking apps in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In those states that have banned abortions, people could now be prosecuted if they are alleged to have had a termination. Social Media has gone into overdrive with women fearful their digital data footprint — in particular the use of period-tracking apps — could be used to build such a case. Essentially, some women fear the evidence of missing a period could be subpoenaed and used to boost a case against someone suspected of having had an abortion. 

Views are divided about whether this is a legitimate fear. Regardless, many of those who have deleted such apps have turned to spreadsheets to safely track their past and upcoming periods, record symptoms and track blood flow.