Ahmedabad: On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Stayfree®, a leading menstrual hygiene brand, partnered with Menstrupedia to host a dialogue aimed at transforming period conversations in India from taboo subjects into open, inclusive discussions. The initiative brought together marketing professionals, academicians, industry leaders, social workers, and students to address menstrual health awareness and the need for collective action to build a more period-friendly society.
Aligned with the global Menstrual Hygiene Day theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” the event underscored the importance of eliminating stigma surrounding menstruation and improving access to menstrual hygiene products, enabling girls and women to reach their full potential.
Hosted at Narayana Business School (NBS), Ahmedabad, the event featured discussions on the role of brands, educational institutions, and individuals in fostering a more inclusive environment for conversations around menstrual health. Industry leaders highlighted the importance of breaking long-standing cultural barriers and encouraging open dialogue around periods.
The discussions also spotlighted Stayfree’s long-running ‘It’s Just a Period’ campaign, which has sought to normalise conversations around menstruation within Indian households. Over the years, the campaign has evolved from encouraging fathers to participate in period conversations with their daughters to initiatives such as ‘Talk to Your Sons’ and #BetaStayfreeLeAana, aimed at involving boys and men in ending period-related stigma.
As part of the event, Stayfree organised a marketing challenge for NBS students on the theme, “How Boys and Men Can Play an Active Part in Normalizing Period Conversations in Indian Households.” The top three teams were recognised by Stayfree and Menstrupedia for their ideas and contributions towards driving cultural change.
Speaking on the occasion, Supriya Srinivasa, Marketing Director, Stayfree India, said, “Periods for long have been a subject of hushed conversations and avoided even in private family settings where the girl needs to feel the most comfortable. At Stayfree®, we believe in not only providing women with superior and affordable menstrual hygiene products but also in encouraging healthy period conversations to bring real change within families first and society at large eventually. Engaging with young minds at NBS reaffirms our belief that this change is not only achievable – it is already in progress. Together with Menstrupedia, we are committed to fostering a world where no girl feels fear, shame, or discomfort about her periods.”
The event also celebrated the five-year partnership between Stayfree and Menstrupedia, which began in 2020 with a shared goal of improving menstrual health education and reducing stigma through culturally relevant educational tools such as Menstrupedia’s comic books.
According to the organisations, the collaboration has trained over 157,600 teachers, distributed more than 1.66 million comic books, conducted workshops across 39,300 schools, and reached over 5 million girls and boys with menstrual health and hygiene education.
Commenting on the initiative, Aditi Gupta, Co-Founder, Menstrupedia, said, “It is incredibly inspiring to see the energy and passion today. We cannot build a better future when we exclude half the population from the most basic period conversations. By working together with Stayfree and Narayana Business School, we are changing the way society thinks about periods. Watching these young students step up, especially the young men who took on the household challenge “Beta Stayfree Le ana” with such confidence and creativity, shows that the next generation is ready to lead with awareness instead of shame. When educational institutes and brands join forces like this, we don’t just change minds; we change the culture of our entire country.”
In addition to the event, Stayfree has released a digital campaign extension film that traces the evolution of its efforts to normalise period conversations within families, highlighting the increasing role of fathers, brothers, sons, and young men in fostering awareness and support around menstrual health.
The initiative reflects a growing movement among brands and social organisations to create more inclusive conversations around menstrual health, while encouraging greater participation from all sections of society in dismantling stigma and promoting awareness.
View this post on Instagram
