A new #SportYourPeriod Initiative is empowering people to engage in sports fearlessly while they’re menstruating.
The campaign is headed by the apparel brand Knix and Professional Beach Volleyball Olympian Brandie Wilkerson, who is sticking a red period symbol to her body during the ongoing Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour finals to support the initiative and start conversations.
“No one should stop doing the sports they love because they are afraid that their period might be seen,” said Wilkerson. “That’s why I am wearing a big red period for the world to see.”
“There simply aren’t enough conversations about the realities of having a period and how it can affect your body and mental state, but I am glad that the shame around it didn’t get in the way of my greatest passion.”
“Having an active lifestyle has helped regulate a lot of my menstrual pains, which has improved my life,” she said. “This is why I hope that together we can open up the dialogue around periods and diminish this fear that is sadly pushing our youth away from sports.”
Women in Sport found in their recent report that seven in ten girls in the UK avoid being active during their periods due to the fear of leakage.
In Canada, one in three people who menstruate above the age of 13 (31 per cent) will skip sports during their period, according to a government report.
Menstrual cycles affect around 50 per cent of the population, and yet many athletes still feel shame around period leaks on their uniforms. Here in Australia, and in New Zealand— host nations of the FIFA Women’s World Cup– changes have been made to help combat this by unveiling new kits that include period leak protections.
Another athlete who’s teamed up with the #SportYourPeriod initiative is British triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne, who has witnessed her fair share of period taboo.
Earlier this year, Pallant-Browne made headlines for championing menstruation after receiving online criticism for sharing a race photo of herself with a visible period stain.
Referencing the photo, Pallant-Browne said: “One of the comments asked why the publisher of the photo hadn’t cropped the image which sparked some debate, and you know what? I am proud.”
“Not only that I was and am able to compete at the highest level while on my period but also, coming from an eating disorder background where at one time I didn’t have a period, I now see it as a beautiful and natural thing.”
“So, I re-shared and pinned the picture on my Instagram because a period is never something anyone should be ashamed or embarrassed about,” she said. “I chose to be empowered by the many women and people who felt seen by this post.”
Pallant-Brown said joining the #SportYourPeriod movement felt natural to her, and whether she’s wearing the red period sticker or has another real period stain on her race suit, she wants “to contribute to menstruators feeling liberated and powerful”.
The company, Knix is hoping the campaign will encourage sports enthusiasts to take part and share their personal period stories in sport. Other big name athletes joining the movement include American weightlifter Jourdan Delacruz, Canadian softball player Larissa Franklin and American rugby player Ilona Maher.