Cycle of life: the period positivity movement
On International Women’s Day, Dr Caroline West tackles a strangely taboo subject – periods – and looks at why less secrecy and shame, and more chat and education, are better for everybody
Periods have come a long way from when I was in school in the 1990s, having to listen to our PE teacher ‘educate’ us by describing a belt-and-sanitary-pad contraption which sounded terrifying and confusing, and not something I ever wanted to try. The pads that were available at the school office felt like a wedge of plastic and made the wearer very self-conscious about waddling and making crackling noises as they miserably plodded around the school, wishing for the ...