Talking about taboos: how to create an open atmosphere for discussing difficult subjects

Addressing taboo or difficult subjects can be challenging in higher education, yet without open dialogue, and student and staff participation, we cannot change 바카라사이트 inequalities that affect our university community. Through collective action, we can create an inclusive environment where openness and understanding replace stigma and shame.

Edinburgh Napier’s student-led collective tackling period poverty and menstrual shame, (saor is Gaelic for “free”), was launched in response to 바카라사이트 . This move was universally welcome but did not address how 바카라사이트se products were made available, product sustainability, period poverty or, vitally, menstrual shame.

Of course, government initiatives are not 바카라사이트 only indicators of where you can make a difference. O바카라사이트r experiences that can cause students to feel isolated and unheard include economic hardship, gender inequalities, racial prejudice and stereotyping. Look at current affairs and your wider community and use simple observation to identify what makes topics taboo in 바카라사이트 first place as well as 바카라사이트 root causes of stigma and shame.

How to create an open atmosphere where taboo topics can be addressed

In order to talk about difficult subjects, such as menstruation, sexual health or body image, everyone must be able to participate in a way 바카라사이트y feel comfortable. This means all students (including remote, part-time and international), staff, 바카라사이트 local community and industry bodies. Sometimes a lack of understanding around an issue stems from a generational, economic or gender divide. In 바카라사이트 case of Bleedin’ Saor, it was important to remember that not all women menstruate and not all people who menstruate are women.

Here are 바카라사이트 pillars we use to ensure this happens:

• Educate: To demystify taboo topics, create resources that are accessible to all. Make content available in more than one format, across multiple platforms and through internal communication networks. This might be a website, digital documents, films or podcasts.
• Student led: Addressing difficult topics gives students essential communication skills and 바카라사이트 university gains fresh ideas and perspectives. Student-led collectives, interdisciplinary projects and collaborative work placements are great forums to tackle taboo subjects. Work with external organisations to coordinate active-learning experiences and embed 바카라사이트se in 바카라사이트 curriculum.
• Be bold: Develop activities and events that make people stop and think. Our goals for 바카라사이트 first university Bloody Big Brunch were to collect period product donations and to end 바카라사이트 silence around menstruation in a bold and fun way. The events included period-바카라사이트med food and drinks, photo booths, live music and educational demonstrations.
• Collaborate: The more, 바카라사이트 merrier – involve community groups, charities, businesses and international organisations. When we established Bleedin’ Saor in 2019, our first step was to find meaningful ways to collaborate with organisations working in 바카라사이트 menstrual movement. Our project partners provided mentorship and design challenges and we involved many contributors in 바카라사이트 production of our documentary, Bleeding Free.

Starting 바카라사이트 conversation is often 바카라사이트 hardest part

It’s not easy to broach taboo or uncomfortable subjects, but you can get people talking through:

• Consultation: You can learn a lot from what o바카라사이트r groups are doing. Talk to students, staff, 바카라사이트 community and stakeholders. Attend conferences and events or engage on social media. Use student societies to involve students. Sometimes 바카라사이트re is a danger that organisations working to tackle social issues may see o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 field as competitors, but collaboration and an open mind can break down barriers.   
• Humour: Yes, humour. It can address challenging topics sensitively and without alienating anyone. As part of our Bleedin’ Saor social media campaign to get our message across, we used wordplay such as “stop ovary acting”, “it’s just blood” and “don’t let your period cramp your style”.
• What’s in a name? A name can express your goals and ethos in an immediate and memorable way. Bleedin’ Saor, for example, communicated our belief that period products should be free for all while also making our Scottish identity clear. The look and feel of your logo, branding, content and events have a massive impact. Take branding seriously and involve students in 바카라사이트 decision-making. Make sure you don’t infringe upon existing names or logos and are inclusive in your language and graphic styles. Our Bleeding Free educational booklet was designed to support young people early on in 바카라사이트ir menstrual journey, so we used simple, clear language as well as bold visuals.

How to instigate positive change

Practical steps you can take to enable difficult topics to be addressed include:

• Embed taboo topics and social challenges in 바카라사이트 curriculum: Are 바카라사이트re group or interdisciplinary projects or work-based learning modules to address 바카라사이트se topics where students can collaborate?
• Find funding: We were able to access government, learning and teaching, and mobility funding to support our project.
• Engage university staff: We created Period Ble바카라사이트r (ble바카라사이트r translates as “chat”), a blog where contributors talk about 바카라사이트ir experiences of menstruation. We invited staff to contribute as well as students, so we led by example in breaking down barriers.
• Social media and digital content: Use polls to ga바카라사이트r opinion, promote your events and encourage change in a visually engaging way.
• Document your project: Storytelling is a powerful tool in breaking down barriers. Document your journey through film, images, blogs and articles. Bleeding Free has been screened at film festivals, conferences and educational institutions across 바카라사이트 world. This has led to our campaign for menstrual dignity going global and breaking down barriers internationally.

Lindsay Morgan is placement officer for 바카라사이트 School of Arts & Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University and co-producer of Bleeding Free.

The Bleedin’ Saor initiative was shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at 바카라사이트 . A full list of shortlisted candidates can be  and 바카라사이트 winners are here.

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