Freda Five: Let's talk periods with Manon Rossi
Welcome to our first post lockdown interview in the Freda Five series, where we ask people who we admire to answer five questions directly and indirectly related to our company mission.
We first encountered Manon Rossi when Nike launched their Nike Sync workout collection, designed to help women train better by harnessing the possibilities of their menstrual cycle. We love how Nike’s campaign empowers every woman to understand, cherish, and acknowledge the impact of their menstrual cycle on their training performance.
What does period inclusivity mean to you?
Inspiring to see inclusivity coming down the menstruation topic, empowering and mirroring social changes.
I understand why this conversation hasn’t been picked up earlier, as the society might not have been ready at the time. Now, we cannot pass over this new vision, free and inclusive as everyone finally gets the recognition they deserved. It took time, now it’s time to speed up.
“How can we except to be able to do so if necessity goods are still an old reminder of a gendered split society. ”
New generation are more and more open regarding this discussion, they are willing to make changes. Not only being vocal around inclusivity, also acting and integrating inclusivity in products we use daily. The journey is hard enough looking at the society we live in to make a stand and stand up for who we are, how can we except to be able to do so if necessity goods are still an old reminder of a gendered split society.
If you could destroy any taboo that exists in the world what would it be?
Let’s start small and destroy the period talk taboo.
Let’s talk, discuss, educate.
In some workplaces, it is still not an open discussion. Open space might not collide with open-mindedness. Hiding your tampon in your hand while running into the bathroom, hoping that no one would see. Secretly exchanging protection as we were suddenly the new cartel of Medellin. Small actions got women to feel like they had to be discreet around the topic for ages. Let’s stop blushing when an army of tampons falls over our bags.
“Let’s stop blushing when an army of tampons falls over our bags. ”
The important point here is to raise voices around the topic. This cycle is here to regulate our body, being part of our daily life for a while, so why do we know so little about it? If we, women, are lacking knowledge about our own body, how can we ask men to be educated on the subject? Men need to be involved in the conversation. Coaches, fathers, lovers, friends, brothers, it’s up to us to include them on this natural topic of menstruation.
“Of course, hormones play a part in our mood swift, but please, let us be angry or moody even if we are not bleeding. ”
Which gender or period related stereotype annoys you the most? And why?
If a woman gets upset, moody or angry, she is probably menstruating.
No. We can be upset, moody and angry without any excuses.
It feels like we always need to justify women’s behaviour if she’s “off the track”.
If we go down the road of history, it’s only after the 18th century, that hysteria slowly became associated with mechanisms in the brain rather than the uterus. Before this time, we were still considered that women were hysterical because of their fluids.
What about the current century ? Is that because for years women have been seen, or expected to be seen as calm, docile and kind? Maybe. However, older generation, even if stuck into this spectrum, were already powerful women, and those who stood up at the time might have been part of history.
Of course, hormones play a part in our mood swift, but please, let us be angry or moody even if we are not bleeding.
If you could set the reproductive health/ sex education curricula for all schools in the UK, what would be the top three things you would insist on ALL children being taught?
On top of the scientific aspect of reproductive organs, all children should learn:
- Menstrual cycle and its phases. What it does to your body AND your mind.
- Contraceptive options and freedom of choice.
- Consensual sex. The importance to own your body and to respect others.
What is the global cultural “change” or “shift” that you most want to see and be part of?
Would love to see a change on how we look at each other’s. Not only regarding genders, overall. Minorities shouldn’t be a word anymore, as we’re talking inclusivity.
Globally, culturally, there is so much to learn from each other’s, so much inspiring stories, so many tips and advice we could share. Without being afraid of change, newness, and diversity. We can embrace differences and acquire knowledge and wisdom from them.
However, everyone is playing a massive role in this change. Simple one to begin with; it would be great if we could run alone, wearing shorts, without being catcalled, or without having the fear that something might happen during the run. I am biased by a European point of view, as in some countries, others are still prohibited to run by themselves, or in shorts.
There is a lot of different situations, disregarding genders, body type, beliefs... The goal here would be for everyone to go out without being ashamed, scared or discriminated.
Interestingly, if you feel confident enough to lead the way, to stand up for what you think is the right thing, others might follow. They need to see it and to be educated to understand, to be able to accept it, and to mirror the same behaviour. It all starts with small actions, that can lead to a bigger change.