Girls have every right to speak with confidence, curiosity, and authority about menstruation. For too long, the world has acted like periods should b
Girls have every right to speak with confidence, curiosity, and authority about menstruation.
For too long, the world has acted like periods should be hidden, whispered about, or carried in silence. Those old ads with smiling women in white pants tricked people into believing that periods were supposed to be easy, tidy, or painless.
So when girls speak openly about their cycles, their pain, or their questions, some adults look surprised.
Some even try to silence them.
But here at RosasChildren, we teach girls the truth:
Your voice matters.
Your body matters.
Your questions matter.
And your knowledge is power—not division.
The Truth Girls Need to Know
Not every girl menstruates yet.
Not every girl will.
But the ones who do know what it’s like to:
feel cramps that stop you in your tracks
notice changes that feel confusing or scary
experience heavy bleeding or sudden shifts
feel embarrassed to speak up because adults rush to dismiss your pain
Girls deserve adults who listen, take concerns seriously, and never shame or silence them.
This is the beginning of understanding womanhood—not the commercial version, but the human one.
ONLY Girls and Women Know These Realities
Only girls and women know what it’s like to have period pain dismissed.
Only girls and women know what it’s like to have teachers say, “You’re fine,” when you’re clearly not.
Only girls and women know what it’s like to hide pads in sleeves, backpacks, or jacket pockets to avoid teasing.
Only girls and women know what it’s like when a doctor says, “It’s normal,” while something is clearly not normal.
Many women with conditions like:
fibroids
adenomyosis
endometriosis
PCOS
heavy bleeding
spent years—sometimes decades—searching for answers because their early symptoms as girls were ignored.
Girls deserve better.
Global Girls Deserve Better, Too
Girls should also know that their sisters around the world experience menstruation differently:
Some communities still use period huts, where girls are isolated or unsafe during their cycles.
In many countries, period products are too expensive, creating period poverty.
In the U.S. alone, 1 in 4 teens struggle to afford menstrual products.
About 16.9 million people who menstruate in the U.S. live in poverty, making basic products a challenge.
Worldwide, millions of girls miss school every month because they lack supplies, privacy, or clean facilities.
Some communities shame girls into silence, teaching them that their cycles are embarrassing or “dirty.”
In many places, menstrual health is not taught at all, leaving girls afraid, misinformed, and unheard.
Learning how other girls live expands compassion and builds global sisterhood.
This Is About Power and Protection
Girls must learn early that speaking up about their bodies is not rude, dramatic, or “too much.”
It is necessary for safety:
to get medical care
to have pain taken seriously
to know when something is wrong
to advocate for themselves when adults won’t
to support other girls who need protection
to understand boundaries around their bodies
to recognize mistreatment or danger
Self-Respect Begins With Naming Your Own Body
Treating others well never requires erasing yourself.
Silence is not kindness.
Shrinking is not politeness.
Girls deserve to know:
You do not make yourself smaller so others feel bigger.
You do not pretend discomfort doesn’t exist.
You do not apologize for having a body that functions.
You do not hide pain to avoid upsetting someone else.
You do not minimize your period because someone claims it is “no big deal.”
Self-respect is not optional.
It is the foundation of safety.
Encourage Girls to Ask Questions—And Expect Answers
Girls should feel free to ask:
“Why does my body feel this way?”
“Is this normal?”
“What should I do if my period is too heavy?”
“Why do some countries mistreat girls during menstruation?”
“Why do some communities lack products?”
“How do other girls handle their cycles?”
“What are fibroids, endometriosis, or PCOS?”
“Why was my pain ignored?”
Asking questions is not disrespect.
It is leadership.
Girls Must Speak. Girls Must Be Heard.
Knowledge about womanhood does not divide people—
it protects girls,
educates communities,
and strengthens families.
Misinformation still spreads faster than truth.
That is why girls must keep speaking up:
about their pain
about their confusion
about their boundaries
about their needs
about their health
about their experiences
Their voices are not optional.
They are essential.
And when girls speak with confidence—especially Black girls—they grow into women who will not be ignored, erased, dismissed, or silenced.
This is not just education.
It is empowerment.
It is safety.
It is the beginning of a world where girls can stand tall in their truth and carry that strength into every room, every system, and every part of their future.