Men and Boys Have a Role to Play in Menstrual Dignity

Menstrual dignity is not just a “women’s issue.” It is everyone’s issue.

Men and boys can be powerful allies in challenging stigma, ending discrimination, and helping create environments where menstruators can live with dignity. But our latest research shows a striking gap between potential and action:

• Only 8% of men and boys surveyed have ever intervened to stop discrimination against menstruators.
• And for nearly half of them, menstrual discrimination was not even visible.

These findings are just the tip of the iceberg.

Through the Sang pour Sang Consortium, we conducted a large-scale population-based research study on menstrual dignity and discrimination in the Global South, which included a survey of 3,465 men and boys across 9 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

The mixed-methods findings offer powerful insights into men’s and boys’ menstruation-related attitudes, knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors. They also point to a clear opportunity: engaging men and boys is essential for building communities, schools, workplaces, and health systems that support menstrual health and dignity.

The consortium comprises Fòs Feminista, Equipop, Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation and Stichting PSI Europe, and is funded by Agence Française de Développement.

Read the cross-county report to learn more about how men and boys can become key allies for menstrual dignity.

Read the full report (English)