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With an aim to change mindsets, sparks conversations and start an urban dialogue to stir conversations around menstrual cycle, allow women to embrace periods.
Menstruation is still a subject less talked about, in every section of society. Periods have long been associated with dirt, disgust, shame and some might even say fear. The social stigma and age-old unfounded myths attached to it can have a detrimental effect on the physical and psychological health of a young girl transitioning into womanhood. Even today in some communities, women are banished to sheds, during their period because of so-called “impurity” during menstruation, despite the ancient practice being outlawed.
The Situation Today
It is unfortunate that menstruation is overwhelmingly considered as a secret and strictly women’s business. Young girls are taught from a young age that they have to manage it privately and discreetly. This has resulted in negligible discussion on the subject in families leading to minimum information sharing towards the need of menstrual hygiene system in vast sections of the society. A large number of adolescent girls and women particularly in rural India are still weighed down by unfounded taboos that surround menarche and the subsequent management of the menstruation cycle.
How Well Is She Prepared?
The silence and shame and constant ignorance towards this natural phenomenon have caused a severe problem, constantly harming the health and dignity of women. Lack of knowledge about the process of menstruation and hygiene coupled with large population lying in the low per capita income group ends up in shocking statistics in India. Based on official studies, 60% of girls miss school on account of menstruation.
A lot of girls are even forced to use natural materials like mud, cow-dung, ashes, newspaper, husk sand and dried leaves to aid absorption when they menstruate. These unhygienic materials put women at risk of reproductive tract infections leading to deadly diseases like cervical cancer.
The Changing Scenario
The silver lining is that awareness is on the rise and society is becoming increasingly conscious of the need to empower Women by emancipating them from unscientific beliefs about Menstruation. Taboo around menstruation has started to be seen as a threat to health and many people are willing to break this silence. Social media and information technology have also contributed to opening up spaces for dialogue over menstrual taboos and in spreading awareness and sensitivity about the scale of the issue.
In the exploration of the origins and basis of menstrual taboo, looking at the perception of the menstrual cycle in different cultures and religions, the roots of almost every perception seems to be “Patriarchy”. Therefore the origin of the taboo certainly seems to be the discrimination that women have faced from primitive times. There is an institutionalized basis for these taboos to exercise control and authority over women.
Let’s Begin To Upgrade Ourselves
Overcoming this taboo is a point of contention among feminists. The primary argument behind this is the most important question, “If menstruation is normal, there is no reason the topic should be avoided.” It is not only girls who need to grow about menstruation, but society as a whole. Multi-sectoral approaches are needed in this regard. Addressing the issue in a more holistic way by linking the physical infrastructure, water and sanitation projects to health education and reproductive health programs are a mandate.
It’s high time we break the taboo and encourage conversations about periods, that surrounds the natural biological functions of the female body. While awareness is still very low, mothers do want and expect their adolescent daughters to be empowered with knowledge. The first step is to create a shift with this type of audience. The definite need of the hour is the training of peer educators, as young girls are most comfortable talking to their friends. With an aim to change mindsets, sparks conversations and start an urban dialogue to stir conversations around menstrual cycle, allow women to embrace periods.
Image via Pixabay
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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