Boys need to be educated about periods to help break the taboo that still surrounds them, says founder of award-winning brand Hello Period.
Speaking at their Australian launch, Robyn McLean, co-founder of the cult Kiwi brand said sending boys out of the room when periods were discussed still happened at schools in both Australian and New Zealand.
Her comments were endorsed by Melbourne psycho-sexologist, Chantelle Otten, a guest speaker at the launch.
While menstrual health education is indirectly part of the Australian Health and Physical Education curriculum, it is not currently mandated for schools to teach students about menstrual health, leaving many students unsure of how to manage pain effectively and many teachers unaware of how this can impact students’ education.1
McLean and Otten agreed that until curriculums addressed the issue negative stigmas associated with periods would continue.
“I often talk about my frustration that so often, even today, boys are not included in period education at school”, McLean said. “I’d love to see period education made compulsory for all school children regardless of whether they will physically experience periods. Without that move, it’s going to continue to be seen as a taboo subject by many from an early age.”
Otten echoed, “having a room filled with open, influential minds to assist us in making this shift together is what is important. These are vital conversations which we need to continue and having quality products at the forefront of this is incredible.”
A certified B Corp, Hello Period says Australians are loving their sustainable period care range which includes period underwear, pads, period cups and their world-famous menstrual disc.
While the company has already diverted over 500,000 single use tampons and pads from landfills and waterways, the spike in Australian sales means they will reach their target of one billion by 2030 well in advance. Australian’s support through online and retail distribution, the company has reached a significant goal of saving over half a billion single-use period products. In Australia, according to Clean Up Australia, there are an estimated 6 million menstruators, who use between 12-22 single use sanitary items per period, they have approximately 13 periods per year, and menstruate for up to 40 years. Over the course of a lifetime, a single menstruator will use around 15,000 single use sanitary items – which can take more than 500 years to decompose.
Each Hello Cup and Hello Disc is the equivalent of over 2,000 tampons or pads.
“Single-use period products generate an astounding amount of waste with some marine life mistaking plastic-ridden tampons for food – we can do better, especially when our customers tell us that reusables are far more comfortable, convenient and cost effective,” she explains. “With Australia’s commitment we are so proud to have accelerated the timeframe to achieve our goal. And we think that’s bloody awesome.”Ms McLean said.
Hello Period is the only period brand in the world to offer reusable period care options for anyone with a period – both internal and external products as well as specialty menstrual cups for different cervix heights.
Now available in more than 200 select TerryWhite Chemmart stores Australia-wide, stocking the full range of regular Hello Cups, including the low and high cervix cups as well as the innovative and award-winning Hello Disc.
References:
1. Teacher Magazine
2. What to know about disposing of tampons, written by WebMD Editorial Contributors, Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on October 25, 2021
