Welcome Giuls!

Last month we welcomed to our team Giuls (they/them), our new Digital Communications Coordinator at Dignity. Here are some questions they answered to introduce themselves!

What's your role at Dignity?
I am the new Digital Communications Coordinator.

What's your favourite part of your job? 
I’ve only just started, but so far my favourite part of this job is that I get to read and write about something I’m really passionate about. I am very much into normalising aspects of everyone’s life that for some reason are still taboo or shushed away or brushed under the carpet. Periods are normal and also essential: they let us know that our body is doing its job and everything is working ok. I love that I get to write about this all day!

What does Dignity mean to you?
To me, dignity is the opposite of shame. It’s the human right to be respected as a person. It’s something that people with periods in particular deserve: they are already awesome for bleeding for several days a month and carrying on with their life like nothing is happening. No one should have to worry about not having access to period products when there’s already so much shame around menstruating. No one’s period should get in the way of them living their life. This is what dignity means to me.

Why do you think businesses should have Dignity at their workplace? How can we make periods more normal? 
Periods happen to half the world’s population, and they are just as normal as sweating or breathing. So it’s a bit ridiculous that there is still so much secrecy and shame around them. I think writing, talking, and generally being vocal about it is one way we can help normalise periods. Business should go with Dignity because period products are expensive and not always available. If you’re late to a meeting and you get caught out, the idea of running to the shops to buy a tampon is only going to add to the stress of the day. Having Dignity at work makes it easier to deal with a surprise period and reduces the anxiety around a very normal bodily function.

What do you do outside of Dignity?
I mostly write! I am a writer at heart and I create content on heaps of different platforms (Medium, Vice Italy, my own website), and I write creatively as well. Other than that you will find me reading, drinking gallons of tea, chilling in my house-bus, planning my next adventure, and hiking my legs off.

Who do you admire?
So many people! I admire anyone who doesn't care about what other people think of them. I admire people who don’t conform to society’s standards and expectations, who play around with gender and are not afraid of being loud and taking up space. And people who can sing. 

What is a quote you live by?
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. (Except I trust everyone haha.)

What piece of advice would you give to yourself 5 years ago?
You don’t need to report to anyone other than yourself.
You don’t need to make yourself smaller to make more space for someone else.
Voicing your boundaries doesn’t make you selfish.
No, you don’t need to buy another mug. 
Always check if it’s a costume party.