Nick Undenta

‘Periods, Pads & Proud’ is a book written by a youngster, Elizabeth Aderonke Odukoya, to promote menstrual health and empowerment as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and her NGO, The EmpowHER Project.  The book is teaching young girls that having menstruation is a natural cycle of life they should be proud of and be bold and courageous to confront it. It is a thing of pride that gives you that feminine, soft power that enthralls the world. 

The book aims to enlighten young women on how to have a positive approach to having their period and not to feel stigmatized even in the midst of the opposite sex, but a phenomenon they should experience with self-confidence, knowing that it is a symbol of their fertility and procreation. It is the key women have to ensure the existence of humanity in the world. Rather than treating menstruation as a taboo, ‘Periods, Pads & Proud’ breaks the silence and opens up conversations. It helps young readers understand what periods are, how to manage them hygienically, and most importantly, why they should never feel ashamed of their bodies.

So, the book starts with breaking the taboo, where the young Odukoya discusses about how a young girl will accept that natural phenomenon of menstruation, which distinguishes her from the other human, the man. At first, it requires reconciling with the reality of the difference symbolized with the monthly period. Then it distinguishes the woman as special creation which symbolizes fertility and creation. It is a thing every woman should be proud of.

She writes about the woman’s body which is uniquely made, attractive, irresistible and at the same time bestowed with the power to create and rejuvenate the world. The woman’s body is a symbol of joy and happiness and God’s fulfilment.

Odukoya walks girls through practical topics like recognizing the signs of their first period and tracking their cycle. By blending science with practical advice, the book ensures that no girl feels unprepared. The young girl traces the history of managing the period in our society, from old rags to modern pads, the evolvement of modernity and the advancement made in managing a woman’s menstruation. Then she narrates, step by step how to wear disposable pads properly and step by step rules on how to wear reusable pads properly.

She also writes on how girls can make their reusable pads at home, understanding period poverty and how The Empower Project tackles period poverty.

Beyond the practical, Odukoya also tackles stigma and period poverty, showing readers that menstrual health is not just a personal issue but a matter of human rights. She draws on her experience with The EmpowHER Project, which has reached thousands of girls in Nigeria with menstrual health education and pad distributions, to highlight the urgent need for change in communities and schools. 

In the book, Odukoya enjoins women to regard their menstrual period as period of confidence and not to be embarrassed by God’s unique designation that gives them the crucial responsibility to sustain mankind.  She ends the work with a glossary of words relating to woman’s menstrual health and the often-asked questions about a woman’s period.

Odukoya’s book is a work that should be on the reading table of every woman who has young girls growing up. Every mother should have one for her female children. It takes away the drudgery of a woman explaining everything to her daughter. The book teaches her everything she needs to know.

Credit should go to young Odukoya, who dedicated time to write the book. What is key about the work is the design to give young women their pride during their period.

* Udenta, a literary scholar, writes from Lagos

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