Arsenal Women have teamed up with Persil to launch the ‘Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game’, a campaign backed by athletes in order to send the message that no stain should stand in the way of sport.
Persil has launched the campaign off the back of the brand’s top performance and expertise in stain removal, echoing their central belief that “Dirt is Good”. Persil says that stains are not the enemy, and each one tells a story of determination and hard work.
With the launch of the ‘Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game’, Persil are now diving into one of the biggest taboos surrounding female athletes – playing with periods.
Persil have conducted a study involving 1,000 teenage girls between the ages of 15-18 who participate in sporting activities. The research discovered that over three quarters (78%) of the girls have stopped playing sports because of their periods, and six of ten of those have done so because of the fears surrounding stains and leaks.
More than a quarter of the girls involved in the study do not feel comfortable speaking openly about their periods, whilst 56% of the group feel that the topic is too personal. On top of this, 76% said that they have thrown away sports clothes after experiencing a period leak, significantly highlighting the under-education surrounding effective period stain removal.
For those who remain in the game during these developmental years, up to 79% of the girls stated that their periods have affected their confidence while playing sport.
As more and more young girls drop out of sports in fear of period leaks and stains, Persil has partnered with Arsenal in order to create a future where every stain is worn with pride.
Gunners forward Beth Mead is a key figure head of the campaign: “We’ve all been in that situation, facing a leak or period stain and fearing how others might react to it. But it’s not right to feel shame over something that’s so normal.
“In football, we wear our stains with pride — they show our commitment and passion for the game. That should be the same for all blood stains, regardless of where they come from – because they are part of the game.
“We’re proud to be part of this campaign and to stand up for girls who feel afraid or ashamed about blood stains when playing sport. We all deserve to play with confidence and feel like we belong in the game we love.”
Tati Lindberg, Chief Officer at Dirt Is Good expressed: “Every stain tells a story of determination. Of giving everything to the game you love. For decades Dirt Is Good / Persil has championed stains as a symbol of passion, not a problem, proving that getting dirty is part of the journey, not a setback.
“We’re proud to team up with Arsenal in challenging this double standard that’s pushing young players away from sport at a pivotal moment for women’s football and women in sport. We believe that everyone should feel empowered to play on, enjoy going outside, getting stuck in, and getting dirty.”
