Western society talks about equality every day.
It’s an issue that permeates schools, workplaces, and our homes. We shout loud that men and women deserve the same opportunities, the same rights, the same respect. But for millions of girls, equality ceases to exist the moment their period begins.
Across South Africa, menstruation is still dehumanised by silence and shame. It’s not just a lack of access to sanitary products, which are still considered a luxury item among many. It’s the stigma that surrounds those who menstruate. Too many girls grow up believing their periods are something to hide or to feel embarrassed by.
Talk needs to become action
This stigma runs deep. It seeps into classrooms, into conversations, and ultimately kills confidence. Girls miss school because they have no safe way to manage their periods. Others sit quietly in class, afraid of leaks or teasing. Some give up altogether. When that happens, we don’t just lose education. We lose potential, pride, and equality.
Menstruation is not a taboo. It is just biology. It is natural, normal, and part of being human. Men and women are equals, so why should one half of humanity be shamed for something so fundamental?
Change happens when we speak openly and act collectively. That means challenging outdated attitudes when we hear them, sharing accurate information, and starting conversations that break the silence. It means using our voices on social media to normalise what should never have been hidden and supporting charities like Siyakunakekela that work every day to provide education, access, and dignity to girls across South Africa.
As a society, we’ve made progress on many fronts. But this is one issue that still needs to move forward. Siyakunakekela believes that ending period poverty means more than access to pads or education. It’s about restoring dignity and giving girls the confidence to take their place in the world without shame, just as a determined equal.
Let’s move forward together and make period stigma a thing of the past.
Help us to end period poverty and create equality across South Africa.
