In 2015, poet and artist Rupi Kaur (featured in the image above) made headlines when Instagram censored her image of a period stain.
Kaur's photograph was meant to incite discourse around the taboos of menstruation. The fact that it was removed by the social platform — not once, but twice — ignited an uproar online.
Though it's been nearly seven years since the image was uploaded, stigma around periods remain as widespread as ever. Half of the world's population menstruates and, yet, periods often remain a topic of conversation reserved for hushed tones and a barrier to everyday activities for many.
In honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day, and as part of our mission to destigmatize menstruation each and every day, we're shining a light on this year's theme: to make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.
It might not seem like a big ask, but when you consider that this natural bodily function often prevents women and girls from getting an education, earning an income, or fully and equally participating in everyday life, there's tons of progress to be made.
To help move the needle forward, our little sister, Kt. by Knix, has launched a year-long initiative — Period Overshare — in partnership with PERIOD., an organization committed to distributing free menstrual products to those in need.
Kt. is all about encouraging period confidence among teens, changing period care for the better, and championing youth in the process. The campaign is a meaningful step towards ending period stigma and raising awareness of period poverty.
And what better way to open up the conversation than to invite people online to share their first period experiences and period mishaps? Everyone has a period story in their repertoire, and we want to hear yours — don't worry, it's for a good cause.
Struggles faced by lower-income communities across Canada and the US have been heightened by the pandemic. Through this partnership, Kt. is amplifying awareness of period poverty and supporting communities who need it most.
Want to take part in the fight against period stigma and period poverty? All you have to do is share your very own Period Overshare story online.
Every time someone tags @ktbyknix and @periodmovement with the inclusion of #periodovershare on social, Kt. will donate 1 reusable pad or 1 pair of Leakproof Underwear to PERIOD. who will take care of distributing products to youth, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2+ communities.
Periods are normal. Let's make them feel normal — for everyone.