When was the last time you had a conversation about periods? Not with your partner, not as a joke with your friends, but with your daughter? Or your son? Or even your younger self?
If your answer is “never” or “not really,” you’re not alone. For generations, menstruation has been wrapped in silence, shame, and stigma. It was whispered about, hidden away, and labelled a “women’s issue.” But here’s the truth: periods aren’t just about women. They’re about families. They’re about dignity. And yes, they’re about you too, Dad.
What is Menstrual Health Day, and Why Should Dads Care?
Every year on May 28th, the world marks Menstrual Health Day (MHD), a global call to action to break taboos, end period poverty, and promote menstrual equity. This year’s theme, “Together for a Period Friendly World”, is a reminder that no one can do it alone.
Not teachers. Not NGOs. Not even moms. We need fathers because being a supportive, informed, period-positive dad changes everything.
Why Your Involvement Matters
Here’s what we know: ● In many homes, fathers still hold decision-making power, especially around what products are bought or how finances are allocated. That means your understanding (or misunderstanding) of periods can directly impact your daughter’s access to pads or menstrual products. ● A UNESCO report found that nearly 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their periods due to lack of products, stigma, or pain (UNESCO, 2014). That’s not just a health issue. It’s an education and future opportunity issue. ● Research also shows that girls who feel supported by male figures are more likely to develop a positive sense of self and manage menstruation with confidence and less shame.
So yes, your support matters more than you might think.
Dads, Here’s What You Can Do (Yes, You!)
Let’s break it down. Building a period-friendly world doesn’t require a PhD in biology. It starts with:
Start the ConversationWhether your daughter is 8 or 18, your willingness to say the word “period” out loud without flinching sends a powerful message: there is nothing to be ashamed of. Let her know she can come to you for support —
“How are you feeling today?” “Do you need anything from the shop?” “Would you like to talk about it?”
These simple sentences build trust.
Buy the Pads (Without the Awkwardness)
If your daughter needs pads, tampons, a menstrual cup, or whatever menstrual product she needs, don’t delegate the task; own it. Walk into the store and get what’s needed, the same way you would buy toothpaste or cereal.
By doing this, you’re teaching her and any boys around that menstrual products are normal household items, not shameful secrets.
Educate Yourself
You may not have grown up learning about periods, but you can learn now. Menstruation is a biological process, not a mystery. Read a book, watch a YouTube video, or ask questions (without making it weird). Understanding things like period pain, hormonal changes, or the cost of products makes you an informed advocate, not just a passive parent.
Support All the Kids, Sons Too
Talk to your sons about periods. When boys grow up learning that periods are normal, they’re less likely to mock, shame, or avoid conversations about them. Instead, they grow up to be the period-positive partners, brothers, and fathers we need.
“But I’m Uncomfortable…” — Let’s Talk About That
It’s okay to feel awkward at first. Many of us were never taught how to have these conversations. But growth starts with discomfort. And remember: if your daughter can experience cramps, leaks, or anxiety in silence, you can handle a conversation in love.
Imagine how powerful it is for her to know:
“My dad is proud of me. He’s not grossed out. He doesn’t think I’m dirty. He thinks I’m powerful.”
A Note to All Dads, Uncles, Grandpas, and Father Figures
Whether you’re raising a daughter, mentoring a niece, or coaching a girls’ soccer team, you have a role to play in ending period stigma. It starts with showing up, listening, and leading by example.
This Menstrual Health Day, don’t leave the conversation to someone else. Pick it up. Own it. Change it.
Because when fathers become allies, period shame loses its power and we move one step closer to a world where every child grows up knowing that their body is nothing to be ashamed of.
Happy Menstrual Health Day, Dad. Let’s build that Period Friendly World, together.
Remember the stress you had to deal with at school when they started introducing the alphabet and Greek into mathematics while navigating all the things you were probably experiencing for the first time, like a crush, your first party, or breakouts on your face? Imagine dealing with all that AND the stress of a doctor telling you one day that you might need to fall pregnant as a teenager because you could be faced with a condition that could lead to infertility in the future and that you need to do so before your 21st birthday. It sounds like a Disney princess born with a curse, doesn’t it?
Well, dealing with the Pythagoras Theory wasn’t exciting at all, but dealing with painful periods as a young girl was a nightmare and did feel like a curse put on me by some evil wicked witch, at least in hindsight, because at the time I thought it was completely normal and that it was everyone else’s experience. It turns out, almost 15 years after my first period, it was the beginning of a journey of dealing with endometriosis.
As a parent, hearing a doctor tell your teenager that pregnancy might be a cure or solution to painful periods or potential future infertility is not easy. It seems straightforward to simply walk away and dismiss the doctor, but what happens if the doctor is right about the symptoms that eventually could lead to infertility in the future and does? Knowing what to do before it even gets that far can help so many young menstruators, and knowing what to look out for can make a huge difference and hopefully help get an early diagnosis and treatment, or possibly prevent it altogether.
For those that don’t know, “Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.” It is a whole-body disease that affects over 190 million people worldwide, and some of the symptoms include painful, heavy periods, severe bloating, nausea, fatigue, back, leg, and knee pain, and painful sex, which can lead to infertility. However, as a young girl, one is still getting to know one’s own body, and when you’re told “period equals pain,” you kind of just go with it. At times, you may tolerate more pain than normal, and although pain is common, it is not normal.
I remember sharing with friends at times that I dealt with painful periods, but I knew something was quite off because I started my period quite young, and through the years I had seen doctors so frequently, all related to the same thing, something to do with my cycle. It was a painful, tiring, EXPENSIVE experience. Although I found healing through homeopathic remedies, changes in diet and nutrition, various pain medications, and a strengthened walk with God, it is still an uphill battle, and I am still on a healing journey as I still struggle with pain, infertility, and some of the unseen symptoms of this condition.
Now, while some period pain and discomfort are normal, it’s important to recognize when your body might be signalling something more. Here’s a quick guide on what to look out for:
Chronic Pelvic Pain with consistent pain that extends beyond menstruation and occurs at other times of the month
Severe and prolonged pain that disrupts daily activities
Heavy bleeding that requires frequent changes of sanitary products
Gastrointestinal Issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea
Fatigue that causes unexplained tiredness that persists throughout the menstrual cycle and beyond
Any Dizziness, Nausea, or Vomiting
Family History can also play a role, along with the symptoms
Signs Your Period Cramps Aren’t Normal by Parents
It might seem obvious to look out for symptoms that you can easily see, such as a painful period or heavy bleeding, because you might be curled up in a ball during that time, and if not, you might seem cranky because you still have to show up for that math class you’ve probably been dreading, but now you’re worried about the pain, or will there be a leak? Will the painkillers help? All that and managing the hormonal imbalances that you’re not even sure how to deal with yet. However, there is so much more to look out for than what’s on the surface, which is why endometriosis is known as one of the most painful ‘invisible illnesses’, which many consider a disability because of how crippling it can be. The impact is more than just physical, it can cause depression, anxiety, brain fog and so much more, which requires patience, a good support system, encouraging open conversations, and advocating for further investigations such as pelvic exams, ultrasounds, or laparoscopic procedures.
Early intervention and medical attention are crucial for managing endometriosis effectively. Remember to always keep a detailed account of symptoms; consult a healthcare professional; but don’t rush with treatment options; always get a second and maybe third opinion if you and normalise conversations about your period with friends, family, at home, and school, in different spaces to reduce stigma and create safe spaces for discussions that could help many young menstruaters get the help they need and avoid a long journey or dealing with chronic pain as adults.
Written by Bontle Moka.
Bontle Moka is an Endometriosis Advocate and founder of Endometriosis South Africa. Follow her for insights and personal experiences. Explore her journey and gain valuable perspectives.
I am the founder of Voice of the People Movement. Voice of the People Movement was launched this year in April and our goal is to build stronger communities.
The VOTP team out in Tembisa doing their FIRST community programme! Go team!
We recently launched our first community programme called the Community Enhancement Program (CEP). It was borne out of the belief in order for us to create a better world, we need to create a stronger community and we do that by enhancing the way we connect and relate with each other in the truest sense of Ubuntu.
Strong communities talk to each other and for the past 7 days, we went door to door in Tembisa. We listened and learned from community members on the challenges they face so that we can co-create solutions together. Through that experience I wanted to share THREE things I have learned from the program.
1) The pandemic has shown us we are all intrinsically linked with one another.
All of us share common aspirations- we all want to live in peace and security; to be educated, to work with dignity, to love our families and our communities. we should not be distracted by our differences, rather celebrate our commonalities. That should be the driving force behind our collective vision.
2) The future we want to create requires us to use our imaginations and be open to learn, unlearn and relearn.
The one thing which is constant is change, but when you are open to growth, you see every challenge in front of you as a way to grow and develop as a person, rather than a hinderance. Through this program, we saw positive behaviour change in our team leading and creating change around themselves and their environment independently. When you choose to grow as a person, we grow as a community.
3) Change is always possible when people feel they are involved and listened to.
Feedback and knowledge sharing is part of our culture. We involve community members to co-create solutions and provide feedback on how we can improve as a movement. The goal of every organization is not to solve problems but to make the organization better, we make the organization better but creating a culture of inclusivity. We must be mindful that every voice is involved in the conversation, that every person feels comfortable to join in and offer his or her own perspective. Therefore creating a feeling of belonging and inclusion for everyone in the community.
4) Innovation is not the search for one big idea but the ability to implement small ideas which have a powerful cumulative impact.
As simple and small as starting a WhatsApp group. If you want to learn more about how grassroots organization work, if you want to become a community organiser, a change maker in your community, being part of a grassroots organiser is an opportunity to network, upscale and create change. Let’s help make South Africa better, let’s grow our community together.
Join us and let’s continue to commit ourselves to the future that we want to see.
About the Author
Faeeza Lok is a social entrepreneur, a bunny chow lover and the founder of Voice of the People Movement. Her ambition is to seek partnerships with more organisations to bring equality for all under represented persons.
Follow VOTP on social media:
Join their WhatsApp Group: +27 73 411 0046 | Instagram: @voice_za Facebook: @votp.za Twitter: @votp_za Tik Tok: @votp_za
Mental health conditions are common worldwide, the World Health Organization says one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. It is therefore important that we take care of our mental wellbeing as it affects every aspect of our life, from emotional wellbeing to even physical wellbeing. It is important to understand that mental wellness affects your physical body.
Mindfulness and Mental Health
The uses of mindfulness meditation are to prevent a relapse in major depression and for managing mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders and even eating disorders.
Mindfulness meditation is a practice that teaches us to experience the current moment and how to integrate that awareness into our everyday life. Through mindfulness meditation we are aware of our thoughts, we learn to capture racing thoughts and analyze them thoroughly, let go of negativity and calm our mind and body.
“There is no doubt, that there is a stigma attached to both these two. Mental health and mindfulness. People with mental health are often deemed as weak while mindfulness is shunned upon because let’s be honest confronting our thoughts and emotions can sometimes be scary… but it shouldn’t. We can either be a prisoner to our thoughts or we can hold them captive and control them.”
Mindfulness and meditation are normally not associated with kids or teenagers but if we think about it stressful times come at us from the day we are born; infants get hungry, toddlers want expensive toys, teenagers get bullied. These are only a few examples but the point is from the moment we are born, life can get more stressful.
“Mindfulness is a learned practice. We get better at it in time.”
My belief is that if children and the youth learn this practice from as early as possible, the next generation will see a major drop in the rate of mental health conditions, which will actually lead to a drop in a lot of social issues affecting both children and adults today.
Here is a video below on the importance of teaching children Mindfulness.
Racing thoughts and overwhelming situations oftentimes feel like a fast train that seems impossible to stop.
Here’s a common technique to help us be present and stop racing thoughts and be more calm in our day to day lives, it’s ironically called the STOP technique.
S – Stop everything that you are doing, pause for a minute
T – Take a few deep breaths, focus on breathing, follow your breath coming in and out of your nose
O – Observe your posture, mentally, emotionally and physically without judgment, this meaning just as it is, accept them. Then reflect on what is on your mind, notice your emotions for what they are and their effect on your body, also notice that thoughts are not facts and not permanent
P – Proceed with something that will cement this moment, ie, talk to someone who calms you or someone you love a friend or family, shake it off, rub your shoulders, rotate and relax them.
There is a lot of opportunities in the day to STOP, and you will definitely get better at it in time just give it a try and let’s be a more mindful, mentally aware and well generation QRATERs.
Blessing Nemakanga aka Bleh is Qrate’s Public Relations intern doing her final year towards a Public Relations degree. She prides herself in Bringing Love Everywhere However (BLEH) today it’s through raising mindfulness-awareness.
When this all blows over you will have picked up a host of new habits if you have been following QRATE on Social Media and the recent #TogetherAtHome campaign, you’ll definitely gain some new skills.
Today let’s talk a bit about equality. What is equality? Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities. Qrate, for example, aims to promote equality through various programmes with a focus, particularly on gender.
If you believe in gender equality then believe it or not: YOU are a feminist.
Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash
I am Mangaliso Ngomane. And I am a Feminist. Forget what you’ve heard, men can also be feminists because all that Feminism is simply is a belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. This theory extends to the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.
Gender equality means that the different behaviours, aspirations, and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It respects the differences of the two and does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female.
Gender equality is the concept that all human beings are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. That’s my favorite definition of it. Gender equality is freedom and freedom that is only for some is not freedom at all.
“Gender equality is not just about equal opportunity but it is also about shedding some light on discrimination.“
For example, a boy is not entitled to a better education than a girl, but all children have the right to quality education. A woman will become pregnant and a man will not, this is not grounds for unfair advantage with regards to payment and promotion in the workplace.
So serious is the issue of gender equality that it is number three on the list of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). This is the world’s big to-do list of urgent issues to attend to by the year 2015. The world has met considerable progress with regard to meeting that goal.
Suggested Reading: My First Book of Feminism (for boys) by Julie Merberg
However even though society has made great strides from where we were only 100 years ago, there is still so much to be done. Even in 2020, women around the world still have to fight daily, at home and at work, to overcome gender inequality.
“Men are an important voice because these women do not live alone and discriminate against each other in isolation. Often it is men reinforcing these stereotypes and discriminatory behaviors by choosing to look away or not say anything.”
In her article, This is What a (Male) Feminist Looks Like, Heather K Adams rounded up five traits of a man who does not just use the feminist tag as a shield. Remember we’re all in this together and neither gender is “better” than the other.
So gentlemen, here is the list:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A man that is truly interested in being informed about an issue will show it by asking questions, don’t assume you already have the answers.
2. Listen closely. Do not roll your eyes when you get an explanation of why something is important.
3. Learn. Show your commitment by paying attention.
4. Change. Being a Feminist is a process that involves learning and growth.
5. Try. The Feminist man isn’t perfect, no one is, but he does all of the above all the time because the work of a Feminist is never over. Never stop trying.
You don’t have to start out by saying how much of a man you are or by asserting your masculinity before announcing your alliance with femininity. The idea isn’t about your gender at all. But your genuine belief in social justice and equality.
Gentlemen, if you run a race and win do you still feel like a real winner if your opponent ran and lost with an injury?
We’ll talk again about this very broad topic but until then check your privilege Qraters! And Stay Home. Stay Safe.
Mangaliso Ngomane is Qrates Public Relations Intern. Mangaliso is a 27-year-old traditional man with a modern mindset. He is creative, but in today’s world who isn’t? His quest to make a change has to lead him here.
