Taboos surrounding menstruation and menopause persist in Flanders, study finds
Taboos surrounding menstruation and menopause remain widespread in Flanders, despite growing public awareness of the issues. This is according to a new study by the Vives University of Applied Sciences, commissioned by the Flemish Agency for Home Affairs and Government.
The findings were presented on Thursday during the Gender & Health event by researchers Ilse Delbaere and Marthe Van Vlaenderen.
The study, titled Red Flags and Hot Flashes, surveyed more than 7,000 people and found that menstruation and menopause continue to have a significant impact on daily life, including at school, at work, during sport and in social relationships and mental well-being.
The research also showed that knowledge about the topics remains unevenly distributed. Boys, men and younger age groups in particular were found to have less accurate information.
"Discomfort in discussing these topics"
At the same time, the taboo surrounding menstruation and menopause remains strong, especially in schools, workplaces and public spaces. “Although more than 90 per cent of respondents believe that menstruation and menopause are no cause for shame, a significant group still experiences discomfort in discussing these topics,” said researcher Ilse Delbaere. “Negative experiences, such as a lack of understanding, bullying, and the trivialization of complaints, also occur regularly.”
The study nevertheless found broad societal support for measures aimed at improving menstrual and menopausal well-being. A large majority of respondents said complaints linked to menstruation and menopause should be openly discussed, while there was also strong support for clean and accessible toilets and the provision of free menstrual products, particularly in schools and for vulnerable groups.
Measures such as workplace adjustments also received broad backing, according to the report.
In addition to the large-scale survey, researchers organised focus groups with people living in poverty. These discussions highlighted how period poverty often remains a “double taboo”, combining financial stress, shame and limited access to support. According to the researchers, young people are particularly vulnerable.
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