This week in China, a law on menstrual pain leave will be debated.
Under the law, women would be able to get one to three days off during their period when pain is especially strong. Shao Jinwen, a 24-year-old woman in Beijing, explained that, “legal recognition of the pain that [she] suffers every month would mark a step towards ‘taking menstruation seriously as a women’s health issue.’”
If the idea of menstrual leave seems like a foreign concept for anyone living in the US,that’s because it is. This kind of law is found mostly in Eastern countries. For instance, Japan and Indonesia have their own variation of the law.
While this would be a step in the right direction for Beijing, it’s also worth noting that as it stands, the law is too vague and would only benefit those women who have access to primary care physicians who would be able to provide a medical note confirming severe cramps.
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