How the menstruation cycle should be included in U.S. education
The U.S. education system lacks a consistent, efficient way of mandating menstrual education across states, leaving students in a majority of states critically uneducated about the menstrual cycle. Many girls do not learn about this crucial aspect of their health until they are experiencing it, and often glean information through social media and movies rather than formal education. Schools should incorporate menstrual health education into their curriculum to ensure comprehensive health education.
I attended a public school in Oregon, and in fifth grade we learned about the menstrual cycle during a health session in class. This was absolutely necessary for myself and the other girls, who realized we truly knew nothing beforehand. I learned about my menstrual cycle before I experienced it, so I was prepared.
But our health class was split by gender, and the boys did not learn about the menstrual cycle. When people do not understand how bodies that menstruate function, periods remain a taboo topic. A stigma around the topic of menstruation is reinforced in sitcoms like Young Sheldon and Modern Family, where father figures are portrayed as uncomfortable discussing their wife or daughter’s menstrual cycle, or dismissing a woman’s emotions by blaming them on her period. While these characters are fiction, this trend speaks to a lack of menstral education, which makes menstruation an awkward or off-putting topic.
On average, people who menstruate get their period around twelve years old. Without proper education, this experience can be scary, embarrassing and isolating. In America menstrual health is often overlooked or written off as common knowledge for women and young girls. The California Healthy Youth Act, enacted in 2016, enforces middle schools and highschools to provide comprehensive sexual education. Unfortunately, this does not include menstrual health. As of 2024, Governor Newsom signed the Know Your Period Act into law, requiring California schools to teach menstrual health.
Conversely, some lawmakers are actively working against menstrual education. Florida state Representative Stan McClain sponsored a bill that would prevent elementary school students from learning about various sex education, including menstrual health. It is concerning that an elected official is aiming to keep vital information away from students. Elementary and middle school students are an ideal audience for menstrual education, as it prepares them for an inevitable biological change. It’s also incredibly important for everyone, regardless of gender, to be aware and knowledgeable about periods. Without this knowledge, we perpetuate the idea that menstruation is something shameful or dirty.
Today, 28 states have passed legislation to provide students who get their period with access to free menstruation products. This is a positive step towards period equity in the US education system. The Period Movement is a global non profit that assists communities with providing menstrual education and free period products. The Period Movement currently has student run chapters at many schools, including USF. They advocate for systematic change and work to normalize the discussion around periods. This is a valuable resource for those who may not be familiar with many aspects of menstrual education.
Currently California, Michigan and New Jersey are required to teach their students about menstrual education. Similarly, Oregon, Utah and Michigan include menstrual management in their curriculum. Educating students about the menstrual cycle is essential in breaking the stigma around periods and promoting health literacy. By integrating menstrual health into sexual education we can empower young girls and educate young boys. Doing so would lead us towards a more informed and supportive society.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
