Mexicans demand to recognize menstrual license as Labor Law on Women’s Day

Thousands of people marched this Saturday to commemorate the International Women’s Day In Mexico City, where slogans were shouted for health rights and menstruating dignity, headed by a group of groups called the ‘Contigenta menstrual’.

“We are part of this red contingent that has to do with the visibility of menstruation and the various violence that turn from institutions”, He says Gabriela Quirogaone of the founders of Menstruated Mexicoa group concerned with education over the period.

The protesters began their journey in the monument to the revolution of the Mexican capital and ensure that other companions marched equally in other areas of the country, in Latin America (Colombia, Chile, Peru) and even from Spain, defending the same cause through the so -called ‘Red Block’.

The struggle of menstruated Mexico and other groups that accompany them – break the rule, Xochiquetzal, Luna diverse, Kuvini and embroiderer and incendiary witch -, they say, it is not only for their members, also for 51.7% of women who inhabit the country and, above all, for 62% of people who are in menstruating age.

Quiroga explains that the greatest challenge for the ‘Rule educators’, “is to break with misinformation around menstruation and menopause”, In addition to the little sensitization of both public and private health system.

“Violence not only happens in the private, in the familiar, it is also institutionalized as there is no preparation of doctors to address these issues”Quiroga argues and remembers that there are diseases that affect the period such as polycystic ovary, endometriosis or dysmenorrhea.

Given misinformation, taboo and little sensitization, menstrual educators are necessary in a subject that “Five or ten years ago it was an impossible mission”, Details Vianey Hernándezformator in Multidisciplinary network of menstrual educators Break the rule.

Hernández reports that talking about the period is still a challenge in educational centers because “It ligas with sex education, but you can’t talk about menstrual education and literate without you understanding what the biological function is”

According to the First National Menstrual Management Survey (2022)prepared by UNICEF in Mexico, 69% of adolescents, women and/or menstruating people had little or no information when their first rule arrived.

A figure that corroborates the basic education teacher in the central state of Mexico, Ana Arana, mentioning that “Children reach classrooms without total knowledge about their body, sometimes they don’t even know what they are called, they are still saying ‘little bird’ or bloom”

“Girls arrive with fear, doubts and much curiosity. They ask me what menstruation is, if it hurts, because that is what their mothers tell them (…) They feel they will load a cross for a lifetime, they do not see it as something that unites them to a network of women”, He adds.

Menstrual permit, a first step

This does not change with the age of majority in the workplace “Because when one grows he faces disabling pains”And he does not know what to do, says Quiroga, to refer to public and private institutions that have ignored the inclusion of menstrual policies.

In Mexico, 53% of women have discomfort for the period, according to a study by Dalia Empower, however, the menstrual license is only a right in four states: Colima, Hidalgo, Nuevo León and Michoacán.

In each of these regions, menstruating persons are asked to present a medical certificate.

“You have to show that it hurts, an institution must certify you because your word is not enough”, Says Quiroga and defends together with the rest of the contingent groups that the menstrual license must be included in the Federal Labor Law (LFT).

To this demand is added one of the least visible, and it is that of respect for this type of educators, since Miriam Vázquez, member of menstruated Mexico, confesses that they are discriminated against not having a role that certifies them.

“As a menstrual educator it is difficult to talk about menstruation because they tell us: ‘And what do you play for? What teach girls if that is not talked about ‘, the most difficult thing is to take it to the word, that the menstruation exists”, Concludes Vázquez.