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The cover
of the What is Menstruation? comic book for boys ©UNICEF Indonesia/2016/Tongeng
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On 28 May, people around the world will mark Menstrual
Hygiene Day calling for greater awareness about the fundamental role that good
menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to reach
their full potential.
UNICEF Indonesia is joining the global voices to encourage education about
menstruation to be extended to boys as well as girls. Some might ask: ‘But
menstruation happens to girls, why do boys also need to know about it?’
Take this focus group as an example. Five boys, all
sixth-grade students, sit in a circle in the school library and pass around a
disposable sanitary pad. “What is it?” they have been asked by the group
facilitator. Each student looks a little puzzled as he considers the
flexible, white fabric object in his hands. Finally, one boy offers an
answer: “Is it a face mask?” he guesses.
Another student, Ariel, says he has seen one washed up on
the banks of the river which runs through the village where people bathe and
dispose of their rubbish. Dermawan is the only student who knows it’s a
sanitary pad but he doesn’t know what it’s used for; only that his mother buys
them at a stall in the market.
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A student reads through the girls side of the comic book
©UNICEF Indonesia/2016/Tongeng |
In
Indonesia, menstruation is considered a taboo topic and is not widely
discussed. Many girls do not learn about it from their mothers or teachers but
instead find out when they have their first period, which can cause feelings of
fear, shame and embarrassment about this very natural bodily function.
Online polling
in May 2017 by UNICEF’s U-Report revealed 17% of Indonesian girls report experiencing
teasing and bullying by other students, especially boys, when they have their
period. This can lead to them skipping valuable days of school each month to
avoid unpleasant scenes. Over time, these missed days add up and can cause
girls to fall behind in class or drop out altogether.
To combat
this, in 2016 UNICEF Indonesia, in collaboration with the government’s School
Health Program or UKS, published a comic book which explains menstruation using
simple words and cartoon images suitable for young readers. Designed for children
reaching puberty, the reversible book can be opened at either side – one for
girls and one for boys.
Both sides
of the comic book explain that menstruation is a natural monthly occurrence
that makes it possible for women to have children.
Girls get
more information about managing menstruation including good personal hygiene
and sanitation practices, what to do if they feel unwell or experience pain,
and how to cope if they get a blood stain on their clothes at school.
Boys on the
other hand, are reminded to treat their female friends with respect, not to
tease or make fun of them and to be helpful when needed.
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| A UNICEF team member facilitates the focus group discussion with two students. ©UNICEF Indonesia/2016/Tongeng |
Impressive results
Last year, UNICEF distributed the comic books to 50 elementary schools in highly urbanised Bandung City, West Java, and rural Biak Numfor District in Papua reaching at least 4000 boys and girls in both locations for the pilot project. Most teachers had the students read and discuss the comics during literacy lessons, while others wove them into classes such as religion, science or sports as well.
Significant
changes in attitudes were also measured. The number of boys who thought they should
be respectful to girls who are menstruating rose to 80 per cent from 59 per
cent) while 91 per cent thought they should behave better towards girls who are
menstruating (up from 68 per cent).
The same
trend was evident in Biak where 85 per cent of boys thought that girls should
not be ridiculed, up from just 63 per cent before reading the comic.
Back in the
focus group, the boys have finished reading the comic book. They take turns
explaining what they have read, showing no signs of awkwardness as they
correctly describe what menstruation is and why it’s important and can give clear
examples of positive behaviour towards girls. It seems the message has been
received loud and clear – menstruation matters for everyone.
This story is based on an earlier published article by Andi Bunga Tongeng (WASH Facilitator, UNICEF Makassar)
