Meghan Markle Pens Essay About Period Stigma
Meghan Markle is proving (once again) that she is monarchy material.
Between starring in Suits and dating the world’s most eligible bachelor, the American actress has a full schedule—yet she also travels across the globe as an advocate for World Vision, the United Nations, and One Young World, to learn about the ongoing challenges that women face. Clearly, she shares her boyfriend Prince Harry’s passion for humanitarian work.
Recently, Markle penned an essay for Time.com about one particular women’s issue. “From sub-Saharan Africa to India, Iran, and several other countries, the stigma surrounding menstruation and lack of access to proper sanitation directly inhibit young women from pursuing an education,” she wrote in the piece.
“When a girl misses school because of her period, cumulatively that puts her behind her male classmates by 145 days. And that’s the mitigated setback if she opts to stay in school, which most do not.”
Markle petitions for a more open conversation when it comes to the sometimes taboo subject, and goes on to explain how the most natural human thing acts as a barrier to millions of women and girls in India.
“With minimal dialogue about menstrual health hygiene either at school or home due to the taboo nature of the subject, many girls believe their bodies are purging evil spirits, or that they are injured once a month; this is a shame-filled reality they quietly endure. All of these factors perpetuate the cycle of poverty and stunt a young girl’s dream for a more prolific future,” she wrote.
Markle also included a call to action in her essay, stating: “We need to push the conversation, mobilize policy making surrounding menstrual health initiatives, support organizations who foster girls’ education from the ground up, and within our own homes, we need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation.”
Spoken like a true princess-to-be.
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