Menstruation-A Taboo Reality

What is Menstruation?

Menstruation is the natural part of the reproductive cycle in which blood from the uterus exits through the vagina. It is a natural process that first occurs in girls usually between the age of 11 and 14 years and is one of the indicators of the onset of puberty among them. Despite being a phenomenon unique to girls, this has always been surrounded by secrecy and myths in many societies. Taboos surrounding menstruation exclude women and girls from many aspects of social and cultural life. Some of these are helpful, but others have potentially harmful implications.

Menstruation-The Taboo

Menstruation is a natural phenomenon unique to girls and because it is something that is limited to only female society it is considered “gross” by the male counterparts due to which this natural phenomenon which should be considered a mark of femininity and fertility has become a taboo,a stigma. Even today, the cultural and social influences on people create a major hurdle in ensuring that the adolescent girls are given proper knowledge of menstrual hygiene.

The stigmas and myths surrounding Menstruation

Mothers are reluctant to talk about this topic with their daughters and many of them lack scientific knowledge on puberty and menstruation.This starts a never ending cycle from generation to generation due to which most of the adolescent girls have no idea what is happening to their bodys when the go through their first period which often leads to stress, anxiety , shame, fear and other self- deprecating feelings. Minds of society are ingrained to connect menstruation with shame and impurity. This mindset has become bane to female existence.

Many girls and women are subject to restrictions in their daily lives simply because they are menstruating. Not entering the “puja” room is the major restriction among urban girls whereas, not entering the kitchen is the main restriction among the rural girls during menstruation.Menstruating girls are forbidden to touch holy scriptures and books. It is believed that menstruating women are unhygienic and unclean hence, the food they touch or make is also considered to be contaminated , the utensils the use , the clothes they wear everything they use during this time is considered contaminated, they are forced to retreat from society for those few days and are often condemned to inhuman and unhygienic living conditions.

Cultural norms and religious taboos on menstruation are often compounded by traditional associations with evil spirits,shame etc.  In some cultures, women bury their cloths used during menstruation to prevent them from being used by evil spirits.In rural areas girls are forced to dispose off their used rags in night which causes many safety concerns because in most of these areas they have to make do with public toilets which are often in far and deserted places, in many cases it was found that men wait in toilets at night to rape women.Still in parts of India Women are sent to basic huts outside their villages during their periods with very basic resources and no safety concerns.

Impact on Girls Life

These taboos and stigmas force girls to stay indoors and under the thumb of the patriarchs.They are taught to feel shame in their own bodies.These beliefs strangle their dreams and hamper their potential to do something big in life.Large numbers of girls in many less economically developed countries drop out of school when they begin menstruating. This includes over 23% of girls in India. In addition to this, the monthly menstruation period also creates obstacles for female teachers. Thus, the gender – unfriendly school culture and infrastructure and the lack of adequate menstrual protection alternatives and/or clean, safe and private sanitation facilities for female teachers and girls undermine the right of privacy. Over 77% of menstruating girls and women in India use an old cloth, which is often reused. Further, 88% of women in India sometimes resort to using ashes, newspapers, dried leaves and husk sand to aid absorption. Poor protection and inadequate washing facilities may increase susceptibility to infection, with the odor of menstrual blood putting girls at risk of being stigmatized. The latter may have significant implications for their mental health. The challenge, of addressing the socio-cultural taboos and beliefs in menstruation, is further compounded by the fact the girls’ knowledge levels and understandings of puberty, menstruation, and reproductive health are very low.

How to meet the challenge?

The most effective solution to these problems is to educate girls regarding the working of their own body, make them believe not to be shamed by it and encourage innovation and production of affordable sanitary technology to improve hygiene.

By :- Mansi Mehrotra