Why is talking about menstruation still a taboo subject in 2025?

In 2025, menstruation is still a taboo subject in many societies, despite advances in education and communication. This persistent silence surrounding menstruation has major social, economic and health consequences for women. This taboo is the result of cultural beliefs, historical stigmas and a lack of menstrual education, which continue to limit access to correct information about menstruation.

In this article, we explore the reasons why menstruation is still taboo and the initiatives that seek to break this silence.

1. The weight of religious and cultural beliefs

In some cultures, menstruation is still associated with impurity or a curse. These beliefs have ancient, often religious origins, and forbid menstruating women to take part in certain social, professional or religious activities.

Examples:

• In India, some menstruating women cannot enter places of worship or cook for their families.
• In Japan, menstruating women are forbidden access to certain shrines.
• In some rural communities in Nepal, the practice of chaupadi forces women to live in isolation during their periods, as they are considered impure.

Consequences:

These beliefs reinforce the stigma attached to menstruation, and lead women to hide their periods. They often feel isolated and excluded from social activities.

2. Lack of menstrual education

Lack of menstrual education remains a reality in many countries. Many young girls discover their period without preparation or explanation.

Examples:

• In sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF, some 48% of girls have never received any information about menstruation before their first experience.
• In France, an IFOP study shows that 40% of teenage girls feel uncomfortable talking about it with those around them.

Consequences:

This lack of knowledge about menstruation fuels myths and fears about menstruation, creating a cycle of silence thatis perpetuated from generation to generation.

3. Representation of menstruation in the media

The way menstruation is portrayed in the media and in advertising helps to perpetuate the taboo. For decades, advertisements for sanitary protection have emphasized discretion and used euphemisms to talk about menstruation.

Examples:

• In advertisements, menstrual blood is often replaced by a blue liquid, reinforcing the idea that menstrual blood is dirty or shameful.
• Advertising messages insist that menstruation must be hidden, and that it's important to be "invisible" during this period.

Consequences:

This biased representation reinforces women's unease about their periods, encouraging them not to talk about them openly.

4. Menstrual insecurity: an economic taboo

The cost of sanitary protection is still a taboo subject in many parts of the world. Menstrual insecurity affects millions of women, who have no access to adequate protection.

Examples:

• In Scotland, the government has introduced free menstrual protection for all women in 2020.
• In France, associations such as Règles Élémentaires are campaigning for the free distribution of sanitary pads to women in precarious situations.

Consequences:

Menstrual precariousness prevents some women from participating in school and working life during their periods, thus exacerbating gender inequalities.

5. Taboo-busting initiatives

In recent years, several initiatives have been launched to break the taboo surrounding menstruation.

Examples of initiatives:

• Awareness campaigns: Campaigns like #FreeThePeriod on social networks encourage women to talk freely about their periods.
• Free menstrual products: Some countries, like Scotland, have made sanitary products free of charge.
• Humor and art: Some artists use humor and art to destigmatize menstruation. For example, comedians on social networks take a no-holds-barred approach to the subject.

6. The role of men in deconstructing taboo

Menstruation is often seen as an exclusively female topic, but getting men involved in the conversation is essential to breaking the taboo.

Examples of positive behaviour:

• Some influential men are speaking out on social networks to support women in the fight against menstrual precariousness.
• Male-run companies are starting to include menstrual leave policies for their female employees.

Positive consequences:

Including men in the conversation helps to normalize the subject and encourage faster cultural change.

Summary

Despite advances, talking about menstruation remains taboo in many societies. This persistent silence is the result of cultural beliefs, a lack of education, and biased media representations. However, recent initiatives show that it is possible to change mentalities and normalize discussions about menstruation.

Breaking the menstrual taboo is essential to promoting gender equality, reducing menstrual insecurity and improving women's health worldwide.

References

1. Breaking the menstruation taboo in the face of stigma

   Available on 50-50 Magazine: https://www.50-50magazine.fr

2. French women, menstrual cups and the impact of menstruation on their lives

   IFOP study: https://www.ifop.com

3. Menstrual taboos: a major obstacle to girls' schooling

   Plan International France: https://www.plan-international.fr

4. Preconceived ideas about menstruation. Body, blood, taboo

   Collective work available on Cairn.info: https: //shs.cairn.info

5. Menstruation: still a taboo subject for half of women and teenagers

   Santé Magazine article: https://www.santemagazine.fr

6. Menstrual health: a taboo hindering equality

   Article from The Body Optimist: https://www.ma-grande-taille.com

7. They use humor to finally trivialize the rules

   Le Monde article: https://www.lemonde.fr