October is Period Awareness Month and as a part of the activities HerFlow Foundation is conducting a School Tour with the support of the United States Embassy, Kingston. The Free Her Flow Schools Tour has visited a total of 29 in October schools, most of the coed schools to conduct presentations about puberty, menstruation and hygiene as well as distribute products from partners Stayfree, Cubbies Wipes and Lasco Curves. Founder and Executive Director of HerFlow, Shelly-Ann Weeks says they insist that the boys are included in the class so that they can participate in the presentation.
“When we contact a school we automatically informed that we will only get the girls. We have to express to the Guidance Counselor that we want the boys to be a part of the session, most of the time, that request is met with some resistance because the boys are not usually a part of any session discussing menstruation.” Weeks explains. “We are warned that the boys are not interested and that they will be disruptive to the session, sometimes we are told no and we have to proceed without them.”
Shelly-Ann Weeks teaches a young male student how to apply pad to underwear
There seem to be a clear effort to keep boys ignorant of the female body and the away from any conversation about menstruation. This is a problem because there is a constant conversation around the fact that men are insensitive to women issues including menstruation and that they just don’t understand.
“We cannot expect to exclude boys and don’t expect them to become disruptive. By separating them when there is a special presentation going on at school, they get the message that they are not worthy and when they see the girls getting “special treatment” they behave negatively towards them.” The two-time author has observed.
“When the boys are in the session,they are curious, they have questions, they are interested because most of them have never been exposed to feminine products before.”
There are some teachers, even mothers who believe that boys should not be a part of any Period session, because they don’t have a period.
“I have spoken to some mothers who disagree that boys should be a part of the conversation, especially that they should have anything to do with feminine products, but I usually ask them ‘What if you needed his help one day?’ typically, that gives them something to think about.” Shelly-Ann says with much passion.
“At the end of the session, we have some of the boys ask us for products to take home to their mother and sometimes sisters. Plus they leave with a better understanding of the women in their lives.”