Addressing Menstrual Stigma through Immersive Online Learning

Menstruation is a normal biological process. Still, in most parts of the world, it is highly stigmatized and treated in silence and with shame. Pakistan, unfortunately, is no different. In Pakistan, adolescent girls have extremely limited knowledge of menstruation. Their main source of menstrual information are their immediate family members, i.e. mothers or elder sister. Due to the taboo nature of the subject and internalization of shame surrounding it, young girls are given limited information on menstruation and discouraged to openly discuss it and at any length. Lack of information on menstruation leads to unhealthy and unhygienic practices and create damaging misconceptions amongst young girls due to which they miss out on normal childhood experiences and activities. The consequences of menstrual stigma are far reaching adversely impacting lives of women from limiting educational attainment and poor health to restricting movement and disempowerment. Menstrual stigma can be addressed through its normalisation by improving knowledge and changing adverse norms and cultural beliefs. This requires educating men and women alike, young and old, about menstruation and by encouraging open conversation. This will help normalising menstruation and in breaking taboos that result in discrimination, harmful practices and misconceptions. As part of this initiative, Center for Communication Programs Pakistan (Center) in collaboration with the East West Center (EWC) is creating an immersive online tool to address the adolescents’ need for menstrual information.