Period stigma isn’t just about periods. It’s about what boys are taught being a man means.
Half the world’s population will have a period at some point in their lives. It is one of the most normal things a body can do. Yet many girls still hide pads up their sleeves, whisper “I’m on my period” like it’s a secret, and dread the moment a boy finds out. Why is something so natural still treated as something shameful? A big part of the answer has to do with toxic masculinity.
Period stigma is the shame, embarrassment, and silence that surrounds menstruation. It shows up in small ways every day, like calling pads “supplies,” hiding them in bags, or making jokes when someone has a stain. The effects are real. A survey by the charity Plan International UK found that nearly half of girls aged 14 to 21 are embarrassed by their periods, and 71% have felt embarrassed buying period products. Some girls are so ashamed that they avoid getting help when something is wrong. In another Plan International UK survey, 27% of girls and young women with worrying period symptoms said they never saw a doctor because they felt too embarrassed.
Toxic masculinity does not mean that men are bad. It refers to harmful ideas about what it means to “be a man,” such as never showing weakness, avoiding anything seen as “feminine,” and proving yourself by putting others down. Boys often learn these ideas from friends, media, and sometimes even family. When it comes to periods, these expectations create a problem. Many boys are taught that periods are “gross” or “girl stuff,” and that being comfortable with the topic makes them less of a man.
One way toxic masculinity fuels period stigma is through teasing. Mocking periods can become a way for boys to prove they are “one of the guys.” One study of over 900 secondary school students in Tanzania found that boys teased girls because they saw periods as embarrassing, especially when there were visible signs like stains. Interestingly, the boys understood the basic biology of periods just as well as the girls did. The researchers pointed to peer pressure and social norms as a major reason the teasing continued. In other words, the problem was not that boys didn’t know better. It was that they felt pressure to act a certain way.
Periods are also used as an insult. Phrases like “Are you on your period?” are often used to dismiss a girl’s feelings or opinions. This turns a normal body process into a way to make girls seem irrational or overly emotional, suggesting that their emotions should not be taken seriously.
On top of this, girls are often expected to stay silent. In the same Tanzania study, boys said girls should hide their periods and not discuss them with male classmates, male teachers, or their fathers. This attitude is common around the world. Plan International UK found that only 24% of girls feel comfortable talking about their period with male friends. Some men avoid anything related to periods altogether, like buying pads for their partner or daughter, because they feel it is embarrassing or unmanly. Even researchers have noticed this discomfort. In one study, most male teachers refused to be interviewed about menstruation, apparently because they were uncomfortable with the topic.
Period stigma is not just about awkward moments. It affects girls’ education, health, and confidence. In the Tanzania study, 80% of girls said they feared being teased by boys about their periods. Because of this fear, many girls attended school less and struggled to concentrate and participate in class. When girls are made to feel ashamed of their bodies, they learn to stay quiet. And when boys learn that mocking periods is normal, they carry those attitudes into adulthood as future friends, partners, fathers, teachers, and even doctors.
The good news is that many boys want to change. In the same study, 84% of boys said they wanted to learn more about periods, and more than half said they would step in if they saw someone being teased. Some boys already see through the stigma and simply need the space to say so.
Ending period stigma starts with treating periods as normal. Schools can teach boys and girls about periods together instead of separating them, which can make girls feel like periods are something to hide. Boys can challenge friends who make period jokes. Fathers can talk openly with their daughters. And everyone can stop using periods as an insult. Real strength is not about avoiding anything “girly.” It is about having the confidence to treat others with respect, even when your friends are laughing. Periods are not gross, shameful, or embarrassing. They are just a part of life.
References:
Benshaul-Tolonen, A., Aguilar-Gomez, S., Heller Batzer, N., Cai, R., & Nyanza, E. C. (2020). Period teasing, stigma and knowledge: A survey of adolescent boys and girls in Northern Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 15(10), e0239914.
Plan International UK. (2017, October 9). Almost half of girls aged 14–21 are embarrassed by their periods [Press release]. Plan International UK.
Plan International UK. (2018). Girls “too embarrassed” to see their GP about period-related symptoms, survey reveals [Press release]. Plan International UK.
