Why be exempt from swimming at school when you have your period?
Periods remain a taboo subject, especially during adolescence. And when they fall right on the day of swimming lessons, it's often panic-inducing. Should we go? Should we force ourselves? And if we ask for an exemption, are we overdoing it?
These are questions hundreds of middle school girls ask themselves every week. Yet the answer should be simple: every girl should be able to choose based on how she feels .
Swimming during your period: not so easy when you're a teenager
On paper, playing sports is good for the body and the mind, even during your period. But in practice, swimming at school often poses a problem. At 12 or 14, you're not always comfortable with your body, let alone the idea of wearing a tampon or cup.
And yet, these are often the only options available. Menstrual swimwear? It finally exists, yes, but it's not yet universally available, nor is it always suitable for teenage body types.
As a result, some young girls find themselves forced to wear internal protection when they don't want to, or pushed to go swimming despite physical or mental discomfort. This moment, which could be a simple sports class, becomes a source of stress, even shame or discomfort.
At Haomah, we believe that no teenager should have to go through this.
The right to say no. The right to say yes.
Some teenage girls have no problem playing sports during their period, including swimming. And that's a good thing! The most important thing is to let each girl decide for herself, without pressure or judgment.
If a young girl prefers to request an exemption, she has the right to do so. If she wants to participate, but with appropriate protection that respects her body, that's also possible.
This is precisely why we designed the menstrual swimsuit for teenagers :
No tampons, no leaks, no stress. Just the freedom to swim like everyone else, without having to apologize for having your period.
Changing the rules of the game
Even today, young girls feel excluded, uncomfortable, and misunderstood... for something as natural as their periods. It's time for that to change.
At Haomah, we campaign to ensure that teenagers are finally given the right tools, the right clothes, and above all, the right to choose at school too.
So: are you ready to swim freely, even during the red period? Or simply say no when your body says stop? Either way, you have the right.
