Addressing Menstruation in the Workplace
Social stigma around menstruation conditions menstruators to keep menstruation a secret and avoid discussion about it (Johnson-Robledo & Chrisler, 2020; Roberts, Calogero & Gervais 2018). Both concealment and secrecy can have detrimental results for a menstruator’s well-being, such as holding negative attitudes toward menstruation and partaking in self-objectification. The oppressive beliefs and stereotypical attitudes toward menstruation that reflects heteropatriarchal culture can extend beyond menstruators' health; that may negatively affect their overall development including their personal and professional achievements and success, physical health, and the right to feel empowered and experience equality.
Menstrual leave, which allows a menstruator to take time off when they are unable to attend work due to menstruation and its related symptoms, is a policy that could affect menstruators in certain ways, including their status in the workplace. The question is whether such a policy would be beneficial or a drawback to a menstruator’s well-being. Rather than progressive objectives, menstrual leave policies could actually increase discrimination and negative attitudes toward menstruators?
Proponents of menstrual leave may argue that such policies may have the potential to neutralize the discussion of menstruation in the workplace and may be helpful to the ones who experience menstrual cycle-related illnesses such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea. However, there is still lack of research on the consensual effects of these policies on menstruation and menstrual stigma, as well as on the places of employment that are offering them. Furthermore, there is no sufficient data on the ways in which menstrual leave may be counterproductive to the overall growth of menstruators through unintended consequences, such as discrimination in hiring practices, salaries or wages, and promotion. Thus, it becomes vital to represent the dispute surrounding menstrual leave via discussion of the potential implications of such policies. Further it is important to understand that without thoughtful implementation, menstrual leave could have negative effects on menstruators, and also to highlight the gaps and call for more research in this area.