“It’s that time of the month.”, “I am going through girl’s problem.”
How often do we hear that? A lot, I bet. Periods, as I mention the word, I imagine a lot of cringes and disgust expressions on reader’s faces. So, let’s say it again and more aloud, PERIODS. If you are still unable to say it aloud, please read on.
It’s really strange that people in today’s world consider menstruation as disgusting and gross. It’s no hidden fact that it is referred as Women’s “secret” business, and men need not poke their nose in this matter. This is one of the basic forms of patriarchy, which is widely accepted all over the world. The fact that even the girl’s term it as “GIRLS PROBLEM” is in no way helping their cause. It is in no way a problem, it is a simple biological process. Period. It’s just the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of uterus through the vagina. It’s as normal as urinating. And if you can’t fathom over this fact, you need help instead of bleeding women.
What makes MENSTRUATION a taboo?
Almost every religion has their share of misogyny when it comes to menstruation. The bleeding women is considered “impure”. The irony here is, that menstruation in itself is a cleaning process.
Men, boys and even women themselves are not open to talk about it openly and freely. Men feel disgusted and gross and women simply awkward and embarrassed. We need to collectively understand that the only unnatural thing about menstruation is the taboo and certain patriarchal behaviour attached to it. For example, women are not allowed to touch pickles during menstruation. Seriously!
The change in the mind-set will not come unless we open up as a society. Unless, we stop calling bleeding women “impure”. Unless, we stop packing sanitary napkins in newspapers and then re-wrapping it in black polybag. Unless, we stop making women feel left-out. Unless, we stop making women feel like they are taking “Walk of shame”, when they buy sanitary pads from stores.
Culturally, we have held our women in high-esteem. Let’s not demean them now by making this absurd practice pass off as “tradition”. Let’s speak out about it aloud and not “whisper” about it. Let’s celebrate the Womanhood. Let’s celebrate the bleeding women. Because more than anything they deserve it and it’s long overdue.