“White isn’t very practical when we’re at that time of the month”
The English team on Wednesday before the European Championship opener against Austria (1-0) in Manchester
Those: AFP / OLI SCARFF
The way athletes deal with their periods during a competition has so far mostly been a taboo. At the tennis tournament in Wimbledon, the British Alicia Barnett had just addressed this. The English players are now struggling with their equipment at the European Women’s Football Championship.
WLike at the tennis tournament in Wimbledon, there was also a discussion about white playing clothing for women at the European Football Championship. According to media reports, the English players have asked their kit supplier Nike to swap out the white shorts for ones of a different color in order to avoid awkward situations during the period. “Hopefully they change that. White isn’t very practical when we’re at that time of the month,” said Arsenal’s Beth Mead, the goalscorer in England’s opening 1-0 win over Austria.
Midfielder Georgia Stanway, who will play at Bayern Munich from the new season, said: “We know it’s difficult because we all associate England with white. But it’s something that affects us as women.” The EM host team was all in white. For the German team, white trousers are only the third choice. She usually plays in black or green shorts at the European Championships.
The way athletes deal with their periods during a competition has so far mostly been a taboo. British tennis player Alicia Barnett has now spoken openly about the strain during the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon and brought up a change to the strict rules for white clothing. “Some traditions could be changed,” Barnett told the British news agency PA. She thinks the Wimbledon custom of wearing white is great, and the players dealt with it very well. But Barnett emphasized: “Having your period during the games is difficult enough. But then wearing white is not easy.”
“Difficult when you’re menstruating and feeling bloated and tired”
She thinks it’s great that this discussion is now happening, said the 107th in the double world rankings. “Why should we be afraid to talk about it? I know men aren’t afraid to talk about a lot of things,” Barnett said. She hopes the taboo will continue to be eased by players talking about it. This could also lead to funding for training methods more geared towards women.
The 28-year-old spoke openly about her experiences. “During qualifying I had my period and the first few days were really tough, I was pretty stressed out by it,” Barnett said. That definitely affected her game. “Your body feels looser, your tendons are loosening up, sometimes you feel a lot more tired, sometimes your coordination feels really bad, and I feel really down and I have a hard time motivating myself.” You try to play good tennis . “But it’s really difficult when you’re menstruating and you’re feeling bloated and tired.”
Spain introduces extra leave for menstrual cramps
Extremely severe headaches, cramping abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness with accompanying nausea – and all this once a month for several days. Around a third of all women suffer from severe menstrual cramps. Spain therefore wants to introduce three days of extra vacation per month.
Source: WELT / Antje Diedrichs
