Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) 2020 is coming up fast! Every year on May 28th, individuals and organizations across the globe celebrate menstruation and advocate for the importance of good menstrual hygiene through various MH Day celebrations. This year is no different. Even though people may not be gathering together in person to celebrate, periods don’t stop for pandemics and honestly, there has never been a more important time to celebrate MH Day (even if we have to celebrate from our couches).
COVID-19 has had an immense impact on the global economy, increasing the number of people who struggle to access menstrual care products and practice good menstrual hygiene. So, to stress the importance of supporting each other’s menstrual health needs and increasing accessibility, this year’s MH Day theme is “Time to Take Action.”
Here are some ways you can celebrate your cycle and take action this MH Day:
1. Make your purchases count:
Pamper yourself with a period product purchase and help someone else get access to the products they need to practice good menstrual hygiene by making your purchases count. Many menstrual health companies, including Lady Box donate to organizations promoting menstrual equity with every purchase they receive.
This month, Lady Box is donating to Days for Girls International and Periodwith every purchase made. Days for Girls International and Period are two nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing access to menstrual hygiene in sustainable and inclusive ways. For every new subscription during the month of May, we will donate a period pouch to Period and a portion of the proceeds from every purchase this month will be donated to Days for Girls International. Our goal is to raise $1,000 dollars for Days for Girls.
2. Be an advocate:
Taking action on large issues like period poverty and menstrual stigmas can sound daunting, but it can be as simple as writing a letter or signing a petition! Many states and countries are working through legislation menstrual equity legislation, so do a little digging and find out what stage your region’s legislation is at and send a letter to your representatives or government explaining how important this issue is, especially during this pandemic.
Not sure what menstrual hygiene legislation is out there but still want to make a difference? Simply sign a petition! Period is currently petitioning the U.S. Congress to support a proposed emergency grant for period supplies and is currently only 350 signatures away from their goal. Click here to take action and add your name to the list: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-emergency-grants-for-period-supplies
3. Get Creative and start a conversation:
There are so many ways you can use your creative skill set to celebrate the menstrual cycle and help shatter the shame surrounding menstruation. Try putting together a playlist, making a meme, writing a poem, or painting/drawing a picture and share what you make with your friends. Having conversations about menstruation is an important step in taking down menstrual taboos and tackling period poverty. If we don’t talk about menstrual health, how can we solve issues surrounding menstrual hygiene?
4. Become a volunteer:
COVID-19 might mean that some volunteer efforts are canceled or look a little bit different than normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do some digging and figure out how you can help when things do go back to “business as usual.”
Both Days for Girls International and Period are always accepting more volunteers and have opportunities available all across the country (and globe).
Days for Girls not only sews and distributes reusable menstrual care kits, but they also provide menstrual and reproductive health education, and help set up international enterprises empowering women to start and run their own businesses making and selling Days for Girls Kits at prices that are affordable for those in their community. They have a variety of sewing and non-sewing jobs for every kind of volunteer. Check out their volunteer pageto locate a chapter or team near you and figure out how you can help.
Period’s 600 U.S. Chapters each focus on one of Period’s three pillars of education, service, and advocacy. Volunteers in these chapters do everything from running educational workshops and encouraging conversation around menstruation, to distributing menstrual hygiene products and advocating for legislative changes that will encourage menstrual equity. Learn more about how you can get involved with Period by reading their Chapters Q&A.
However you choose to celebrate MH Day, we hope you take a moment to thank your body for all the amazing things it is capable of, menstruation included and share the importance of MH Day with others.
Make sure you follow Lady Box on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about MH Day and see our progress as we work towards our goal of raising $1,000 for Days for Girls International and Period.