‘Every Stain Should Be Part of The Game’: Arsenal Women partner with Persil to destigmatise period leaks

Ella Wilson

Arsenal Women have joined forced with Persil to launch the 'Every Stain Should Be Part of The Game' campaign, challenging stigma and proving that no stain should stand in the way of sport.

Emirates Stadium

Periods are seen as a touchy subject, especially in the sports industry, negatively affecting athletes. Persil are determined to change that.

‘Every Stain Should Be Part of The Game’ is challenging the double standards in sport where bleeding from anywhere else during the game is seen as a sign of strength, yet a period stain is seen as something to be ashamed of.

Persil conducted a survey of 1,000 teenage girls between the ages of 15-18, revealing that over three quarters (78%) of the girls had dropped out of sports due to discomfort and anxiety regarding their periods.

6 in 10 of the girls have experienced a leak whilst playing, causing them to feel anxious, shameful, and embarrassed. Nearly all of them (76%) said they have thrown away period-stained clothing which reinforces the idea that menstruation is something shameful.

As more and more young girls are dropping out of sports in fear of period leaks and stains, Persil partnered with Arsenal in order to create a future where every stain is worn with pride.

Leah Williamson during match vs Leicester City, 21st April 2024

Katie McCabe during match vs Leicester City, 21st April 2024

Gunners Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, and Katie McCabe are fronting the campaign, hoping to change the perception of periods in the sports landscape.

Lioness captain, Williamson, was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2021 and has previously opened up about the struggles and pressures of representing her club and country.

Arsenal is running workshops and programmes in educating and supporting children and young people in challenging society’s views of menstruation and encouraging conversations when it comes to periods.

Williamson and Mead have previously been vocal about playing whilst menstruating, with the Lionesses no longer wearing white shorts as a result. Nike’s leak-proof base layer shorts have been designed to adjust to these feelings, with clubs and countries around the world swapping white shorts for darker colours.

There has been some progress furthering the conversation surrounding periods in sport, not just football, but it is still an uncomfortable topic for most. Arsenal Women have made the decision to change that, using their influence to encourage the younger generation.

Here’s to more efforts in changing that perception for good.

To hear Arsenal Women share their experiences and to learn more about Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game, visit https://www.persil.com/uk/home.html