Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
In this open letter to her daughter, a mother normalises talking around menstruation, and destigmatises the stereotypes about it.
My dearest daughter, I want to tell you something today. I wish to pen down a few things every little girl needs to hear before she gets her first period.
Things that I wish someone had told my generation when it was our turn all those years back.
Getting your periods is just shedding the inner lining of your uterus. It is some amount of blood coming out of your vagina. It is not something to be ashamed of, or hidden away. It’s as natural as coughing or sneezing or sleeping or eating or peeing.
Menstruation is a normal hormone dependent body function. It has no role in determining anyone’s purity; which in itself is an outdated archaic concept of this patriarchal society.
…who shouldn’t play with her friends or brothers or cousins.
Why is there any need to mix up periods and maturity? Getting your periods does not magically transform you overnight to anybody else. Do not let anyone take your childhood away from you because of this. Be silly, be goofy, be funny, be you!
Your first period does not mean you have to forego everything else and be confined to your house for the whole week
Your period day is just like any other normal day and if you feel good enough to go out, please do that, because I am here to make sure that no one stops you from being you.
You want pickles? You take the jar out and eat as much as you want. And trust me, the plants are going to die only if you don’t water them.
You need to be at your most comfortable when you’re on your periods, and do not give up your bed for anyone’s sake. As for sleeping on the floor, well that’s what camping trips are for!
There is no single universal method to this. Everyone is different; and so is menstruation. It is a spectrum ranging from vomiting and cramps at one end, to barely even feel a muscle twitch at the other end. You know your body better than anyone else. If you feel like crawling under the covers and having ice cream, go ahead and do that. If you feel like horse riding, you can do that too. Just remember to do what makes you feels right.
It’s one of the rarest and most beautiful things in life to find a circle of friends whom you can hold close. Don’t let something as normal as periods put a strain on your friendships and the way you see people.
The more we talk about it, the more we normalised it. Encourage period conversations both inside and outside the house.
The human body is mind-blowingly unique in that there are people who may not get their periods ever and that’s okay too. You are not defined by just this one body part. You are so much more.
Don’t let any of these conventions stop you from the person you truly deserve to be.
With love, Mom
Image source: From Rodnae through Pexels
read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
Please enter your email address