Why focusing on menstrual health and hygiene is the need of the hour?
Why focusing on menstrual health and hygiene is the need of the hour?
"We knew we shouldn’t be ashamed. We weren’t ashamed. We were
grown-ass women—which is obviously why we paraded to the restrooms with tampons secretly stuffed into our cardigan sleeves as though we were spies delivering encrypted information…”
- Chandler Baker, Whisper Network
In order to address the issue of menstrual hygiene and snub the stigma and taboos that people often attach to it, we need to understand what the process of menstruation really is.
Menstruation begins between the ages of 12-15 and continues till the woman is 45-50 years old. It is the disposal of blood and mucosal tissues from the vagina and it occurs for a span of about five days every month. The interval between the first day of the ongoing period and the first day of the next period is 21-31 days (on an average 28 days). If there is no sign of menstruation even after the age of 15 or if period has not taken place even once in the last 90 days, the condition is called amenorrhea. Menstruation or period occurs due to the rise and fall of hormones. When implantation doesn't take place, the lining of the uterus sheds itself.
Menstruation, as should be easily understood, is a normal biological process that facilitates pregnancy. There is nothing seamy, dirty, nasty, appalling, and gross about it. However, people do not seem to comprehend this very basic idea. Let's now consider the taboos that are often associated with periods:
Women should not talk about periods in the presence of men. And men, at least in our country, would have known nothing about periods had commercials of sanitary napkins not existed. Indians essentially teach their daughters that period is a sin, a filthy occurrence (not a normal biological phenomenon) and, therefore, must not be discussed about in the presence of the most hallowed members of the family - the men!
Now this leads to other forms of marginalisation. For instance, women are not allowed to enter kitchens, temples (where quite ironically it is often a Goddess who is being worshipped) and other holy places. Women are made to stay in 'menstrual homes' while they are on their periods. Menstrual homes are nothing but dingy cowsheds. So basically, a process that would enable a woman to experience motherhood is disrespected and detested in our country. Now, it is for the readers to decide whether it is 'period' that is more loathsome or this kind of preposterous mentality.
Pharmacists sell sanitary napkins wrapped in newspapers as though they are smuggling drugs.
If a woman happens to stain herself while she is outside her house, or if her period begins before the expected date and she starts bleeding while, say, travelling by public transport, then it is the women present there who frown the most. A very normal occurrence is stigmatised not merely by men but also by women themselves.
We must have often heard our grandmothers/mothers/other elders telling us that women are 'impure' during their menses. That is the most abominable thing to say, the most conservative viewpoint that one can possibly embrace but our previous generations have embraced it quite gladly and willingly.
This leads us to the question of menstrual hygiene. Since period is a hush-hush topic in our prudish society, a thing that must be spoken of surreptitiously, the aspect of menstrual hygiene is often highly neglected.
Many women in the villages still have no access to sanitary napkins. Government has taken steps to distribute free sanitary napkins and reduce the taxes charged on such products but the measures have proven to be largely ineffective. This is precisely because nobody wishes to speak about the issue or even spread awareness.
Environmental pollution is a primary concern in today's world. This has led to the popularisation of menstrual cups that are reusable up to a period of 10 years. Women are being encouraged to replace disposable sanitary napkins and tampons with reusable, eco-friendly menstrual cups.
However, most women are either oblivious to the existence/use of the cups or they are scared to use it. There are taboos surrounding the use of menstrual cups as well. In a highly orthodox society like ours, where the virginity of a woman holds immeasurable importance, menstrual cups are looked down upon as devices that have the potential of rupturing a woman's hymen and, therefore, interfering with her chastity and virginity. As illogical as it sounds, this is a misconception that is shared by many women as well.
Women, especially in rural areas, use cotton clothes. This leads to infection and rashes for they are not changed as often as they should be.
Disposal of sanitary napkins, clothes, menstrual cups and tampons also becomes an onerous task when such prejudices are in existence.
During this period most women experience excruciating stomach cramps, back aches, pain around the breasts, mood swings and disturbed sleep cycles. And no wonder if additional mental pressure is exerted on them at this point of time (forcing them to stay in a store room, treating them as though they are outcasts) their pain (both physical and psychological) would only aggravate.
In order to eradicate this appalling mentality that disregards a normal biological process, we need to understand that not all sayings of the past, or of the priests and religious leaders and so-called elders of the family are acceptable. These misogynistic rules and stigmas were formulated by heterosexual men, the flag bearers of patriarchy and it wouldn't be very wrong to assert that those who are impeccably religious are also often incredibly imbecile. It's high time that we renounce these false beliefs and impart the required (correct and unprejudiced) education to all women regarding menstrual health and hygiene.
-Sanghamitra Chatterjee
This article should be read by people of all ages and gender. Many of us don't have an in-depth knowledge on period and thus lack of knowledge on this matter leads to many difficulties in life. This is not a disease and should never be treated as such. During this time personal hygiene is very important but many women from villages can't afford it. I hope everyone in society becomes aware of this fact and will help people accordingly. This article is really informative and good.
ReplyDeleteSo well written ♥️
ReplyDeleteWritten very nicely really loved it💯❤
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that I came across this! Very nicely written, indeed.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame that periods is still considered as something dirty or unholy. Moral education is highly demanded and pads must be normalized as much as any other object. Service taxes should be removed from these products, and pad vending machines should be installed in school, colleges, public toilets etc.
ReplyDeleteI think the first and foremost more important thing is to break the existing stereotypes.
- foodishk
The breaching of stereotypes should begin at home..Government would bring into picture the macrocosm but things are distorted even in the microcosmic space. Both men and women should realise that menstruation is something normal. It is okay to talk about it. Until these little steps are taken in every household of India, across rural and urban areas, the prejudices would never end. Women would come to know about gov initiatives only if they are talked about not if they are made a taboo..Many rural women use cotton clothes because asking for a sanitary napkin from a male pharamacist is considered to be a shameless act. Education needs to begin at home for it to have effect in the larger scenario.
DeleteThe breaching of stereotypes should begin at home..Government would bring into picture the macrocosm but things are distorted even in the microcosmic space. Both men and women should realise that menstruation is something normal. It is okay to talk about it. Until these little steps are taken in every household of India, across rural and urban areas, the prejudices would never end. Women would come to know about gov initiatives only if they are talked about not if they are made a taboo..Many rural women use cotton clothes because asking for a sanitary napkin from a male pharamacist is considered to be a shameless act. Education needs to begin at home for it to have effect in the larger scenario.
Delete18% gst tax on Sanitizers
ReplyDelete12% gst tax on Sanitary napkins
- Government is shameless enough to earn tax while selling these sensitive products
- and still government claims that only 2.5% of Indians pays tax 😂
- foodishk
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYes absolutely.. Government must make serious efforts to install pad vending machines in every school/college/office. They must make it obligatory for the private sectors to take similar steps..
Deletevery well written
ReplyDeleteWritten very nicely
ReplyDeleteIts a realistic boon accept it with heart.
ReplyDeleteNice work on informative article
ReplyDeleteIt does gives gud info for all ages
Gud article
ReplyDeleteWritten well
ReplyDeleteGud article
ReplyDeleteWell written
ReplyDeleteWritten very nicely
ReplyDeleteSo we'll written
ReplyDeleteGud article
ReplyDeleteGud post
ReplyDeleteKeep going
ReplyDeleteGreat initiative
ReplyDeletePlease do support them
ReplyDeleteChange in youngsters
ReplyDeleteBrings changes in society
Gud initiative
ReplyDelete