M stands for Menstruation
Why is Menstruation still a Taboo ? Why this topic is restricted by social customs ?
My Menstruation story
My 9th class result was declared and there was a holiday break of 4-5 days before the next class was to begin . And the early morning of my first holiday came with a shocking RED Spot . Although I did have some idea about this RED because of a girls special counselling session in the school , but not much . Seeing that RED in my underwear , I was all in cries and ran to my mumma. Tension was gripping me harder as some guests were expected that day , my uncle, aunty and cousins . My mumma hugged me first trying to console me and then gave me a cotton pad to use . I placed it but it couldn’t make me comfortable enough to play some running games with my guest cousins . I made some headache or stomachache excuse and we settled on playing carrom. I was showing off to be playing but my mind was in my underwear you know . Something sticky was there , why was it there and how long was it to continue , just had no idea . I think our teacher also had skipped this chapter . When I got up from the chair , my cousin pointed out to the RED spot on the cushion . OMG ! How embarrassing it was ! I again ran to my mumma who was busy cooking for the guests , with the guests . Seeing my red face and the RED on my shirt , this time she gave me a sanitary pad . I went to the washroom but Hell ! Who had told me how to use it ??
There was no proper education about Menstruation
Nowadays there definitely is an improvement in educating the girls about Menstruation but still the education would be complete when the girls and boys are made to sit together in such counselling sessions . When no boys giggle under their notebooks at the name of this word Menstruation . This red Taboo would start fading away when boys actually feel concerned and extend their helping hands if they see a girl gripped with RED . In our times , nobody told me that it’s just a body cycle . All I knew was that it was not to be talked openly . In those RED days , taking a pad to the washroom hiding under a dupatta and again hiding the used one to reach till the dustbin was a real tension . Even when I had started my college , I used to whisper into the ears of salesgirl to ask for a WHISPER . Why ? Bcoz it was considered as something to be ashamed of . It still is . Why is it not acceptable to ask for WHISPER in the same normal tone as I ask for any other soap or lipstick ?
Religious concerns linked with Menstruation
I don’t know which books have the mention of Menstruation as unclean , but I have always heard from the society that you can’t worship in those RED days . Well I don’t understand . It’s just a biological process created by God . How can it be a sin in the eyes of God ? Many societies don’t even allow the menstruating women in the kitchen , and some don’t even allow menstruating maids to enter their home . You know my mother-in-law also comes in this category . It’s I who starts getting cramps when the maid’s period date is approaching . O Society ! Please ! Menstruation is just a natural blood . It doesn’t bring any sins along .
She ran a Marathon with period blood running down her legs
You know about Madame Gandhi ? She ran a 26 mile marathon in her periods , without using any pads or anything , in the year 2015 . She ran with period blood running down her legs , to bring the issue out of the category of the hidden topics . By her marathon , she conveyed a message to women to speak openly and comfortably about their periods . The RED topic should be acceptable to talk about . Let’s talk this stigma away .
The latest #Padman movie starring Akshay Kumar has done a wonderful job by taking the subject of menstruation , where a man revolutionizes the production of sanitary pads . This is a great step for talking this stigma away .
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