DR SARAH ZIPP
“I work on menstrual health education to dismantle the stigma surrounding periods so that all athletes who menstruate can feel supported.”
Meet, Sarah Zipp, a leading researcher on sport, gender and menstrual health. She has taught at universities around the world and was named the Early Career Scholar of the year in 2020 by the Journal of Sport for Development. Dr. Zipp designs and delivers menstrual health lessons to coaches, athletes, physical therapists, sport leaders and organisations through her Power to Play Period project.
A Menstruation Movement
“We are in the midst of a ‘Menstruation Movement’ that is breaking the taboo. Athletes are sharing their menstruation stories, challenges, and coping strategies. When athletes tell their stories, they normalise period talk. Over time, this can help athletes learn more about their bodies and how to care for themselves. The tide is turning and we should all go with the flow!”
Menstruation is a barrier for girls in sport
“I want to make menstrual health literacy standard for all coaches, athletes and sport leaders. We know that menstruation is a barrier for many girls, yet the lack of attention on this topic reveals how their experiences are marginalised in the sports world. I hope to change the narrative by making menstrual health education a part of our duty of care for young athletes, rather than a taboo. Through this change, we can create better sport environments and experiences for future generations of girls.”
People championing Sarah’s story
“I’ve had wonderful coaches and mentors in sport and in my career. It all starts at home - my parents advocated for me to have the same opportunities as my brothers. Want to play baseball with the boys? Okay. Want to be the first girl pole vaulter at the state meet? No problem. Growing up, my parents and brothers supported every sport endeavour. Now, my husband supports me in every way, and we model that for our daughters. I’m very lucky to have such family support.”
Diversity in teams
“My research and advocacy partners are from all over the world. I was writing an article about uniform policies in sport with my Sri Lankan colleague. She shared that Muslim women had been fighting this battle for decades, sometimes successfully. However, the media only paid attention to this story when white Scandinavian women joined the fight. This was enlightening, and we included it in our article ‘Sexism and Sport: Why body baring team uniforms are bad for girls and women.’”
