I often find it strange that whenever a women walks up to a
pharmacy and enquires for a sanitary pad, the shopkeeper smuggles her the kit
in a black polythene or wraps up in a paper in the most indiscreet manner. The
lady also confirms to this idea and disappears with her napkins as if she had
just committed a taboo. Women find buying sanitary napkins an awkward, out of
place or a giggle inducing event. But there are many cultures which view
menstruation as an initiation into womanhood, where a girl gets to be honoured
by a coming-of-age ritual and nothing is considered a taboo.
Menstruation is the most natural, biological process of a
women’s life. In our culture, society continues to categorize it as unholy.
It’s quite confusing being a girl that at the very first stage it’s been
celebrated but later it became an embarrassing issue occurring every month.
The period shame struggle is real; a girl cannot ask her
mother regarding menstruation in front of her father or brother. The same time
when men buy a packet of cigarette it’s been sold openly without any
hesitation. When a shopkeeper was asked why he uses black polythene or
newspaper for wrapping sanitary pads he replied character of a girl should always
be covered.
Girls are unable to talk about serious infections related to
menstruation and at the end have to suffer alone. If an injured person on the
streets asks for help, people may overlook that but no one fails to notice the
stains on a girl’s skirt. In fact to get their clothes stained with period
blood is considered shameful. It’s high time for people to be aware of
menstrual education and avid referring it
as a taboo subject. One should be able to feel free to talk about menstruation.
Many celebrities, including Lena Dunham, Emily Ratajikowski,
Meghan Markle and many more have spoken out against menstrual stigma and opened
up their own experience period shaming to shed any shame. The film Padman was an eye opener for the people
of India on menstrual hygiene and this should also open doors for discussion
where menstruation should not be considered a taboo subject or a sign of
weakness. Men should also support menstruation by discussing matters of
menstrual hygiene with their daughters and sisters. Let the revolution usher in
and change the scenario which has been dominating women since ages.
By Julie kakoty
1st Semester
Department of Communication and Journalism
Gauhati University
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ReplyDeleteGreat.....like the way it conveyed the idea....JULIE rocks🤘
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