Background

In India, menstruation has been a taboo subject across households for centuries. The older generation grew up in a culture where talking about menstruation was met with strong resistance. It is this silence that stigmatizes periods and does not let society accept it for what it actually is – a natural process. It reflects in data too - according to multiple reports by organizations like Dasra and United Nations, less than 10% of Indian women are aware of even the basics of their menstrual cycle & menstrual hygiene, and 71% of adolescent girls are unaware of periods before menarche. Stayfree's objective is to encourage everyone to learn about it. To talk about it. And in turn, to make young girls feel comfortable about their periods. Thereby, debunking pervasive taboos and normalizing periods in India – for young girls and for everyone shaping their lives.