Press release
This Women’s Day, let’s talk about period education and why it’s important!
After a rollercoaster of a ride in 2020, this year promises to be a bundle of hope and positivity. On this International Women’s Day, let us take a look at why the celebration of a woman is more important than ever, and how we can help achieve this year’s theme - Women In Leadership - set by the International Women’s Development Agency. While the COVID-19 pandemic affected people from all walks of life, it had an adverse impact on girls and women, further making it hard to achieve a social balance.
Studies have shown that even today, 2.3 crore girls drop out of school at the onset of their periods and 71% of adolescent girls in India remain unaware of menstruation till they get their first period. Adding to the challenges, the global pandemic has impacted 74 crore schoolgirls, and could severely affect their return to school, according to UNESCO. In order for us to recover from the ramifications of the pandemic, we need to amplify women’s voices to further align with human rights. Education is not just a pathway towards a job and a career, but a powerful tool which can create ripples of confidence, zeal and influence within society.
This year Whisper launched the second edition of its flagship #KeepGirlsInSchool campaign and partnered with UNESCO to shed light on the impact of 2.3 Crore girls dropping out of school - leading to 2.3 Crore unfulfilled dreams - due to lack of period education and protection.
With education, a woman can be more self-dependent and less dependent on her family or other support systems. This helps to close the gap between social classes and enhances her wellbeing by supporting not just her mental freedom but also financial. An educated girl child contributes to economic growth nationally, bringing up the country’s literacy level as well.
As we focus on the future by creating positive moments today, we would like to cheer for all the girls who strive to go to school despite strong barriers, and build an inclusive system one day at a time. Here’s to more solidarity to our sisters - may you show the way to the less aware!