U By Kotex
For cultural icon Flex Mami (whose birth name is Lillian Ahenkan), open and honest conversations are everything – even when talking about periods.
“I come from a pretty open and candid household, and we have always been very open, so when my period started it wasn’t a massive surprise,” says the Melbourne-based host of No Deep Dives.
“I knew that I’d experience certain levels of discomfort, but it was around the function of it and not the societal discussion around it.”
Flex is referring to just how alienating discussing (and having periods) can feel. Per research from U by Kotex, 69 per cent of women want to be more open about their period and 83 per cent believe society needs to be more open.
*Cough* stop labelling periods as taboo.
This is why Flex crafted the U by Kotex x Flex Mami Period Talk Reflex Cards. As a spin-off of her hugely popular Reflex Cards, the Period Talk card game asks questions about menstruation we might be too scared to broach with others.
In conversation with WHO, Flex shares why she wants to help Australian women get better at talking about periods and how we can do it.
First, why should we be talking about periods?
If you’ve ever clutched at a tampon while desperately speed-walking to the office bathroom – you’re not alone. The research by U by Kotex also notes that 30 per cent of women feel anxious about others seeing them carrying a pad or tampon in public. Flex says this type of shame often stems from a reluctance to discuss periods.
“We can see it being perpetuated down to the language that we use around it,” she says.
“When people are saying ‘Shark Week’, ‘that time of the month’, which time? What are we talking about? Why are we being secretive?”
While the stigma menstruating women feel can’t be undone overnight, Flex says we can start by flipping the narrative.
“We need to reclaim the conversation, be loud and proud and not shy away from the difficult conversation,” she says.
How can we get better at talking about periods?
1. Find someone you trust
Whether it’s a family member, friend, or partner, start with someone you trust. “I truly believe that once you start chatting with someone you trust, the conversation just flows,” Flex says.
2. Know you’re not alone
With nearly half the population experiencing menstruation, Flex says you’re likely not alone in how you feel. “The more we talk about it, the more people will join in and share their own stories,” she explains.
3. Make the conversation fun
Though periods can feel serious, Flex says talking about periods doesn’t have to be. A great place to start here is with the U by Kotex x Flex Mami Period Talk Reflex Cards. “Give the gift of openness, all you need to do is ask the questions,” she says. “The more we spark these conversations, and the more comfortable we are sharing our thoughts and feelings the more we can take it into the world and desensitise people to the idea that periods need to be these uncomfortable things.”
