49.6% of the world’s unending population are females, and almost all of them undergo periods. We are all aware that menstruation is a normal bodily function. So, why are non-scientific myths still prevalent? Taboos impact women’s lives in several ways, like their emotions, health (which includes physical, mental, and sexual), and of course, their lifestyle.
Various reports suggest that these myths date back to Vedic times. It is speculated that in a fit of fury, the deity Indra Dev killed a sage. The deity prayed to Lord Vishnu to save him from the sin. It is asserted that Lord Vishnu suggested Indra Dev divide the burden of his crimes. Hence, the deity divided the burden among earth, trees, water, and women. There are different versions of the story, but this one is prominent. However, as the narrative continues, the curse has to be passed along with a blessing. Hence, women have the power to reproduce.
There are different taboos persisting in the world, like:
Spoilage of food
In some countries, it is believed that touching a cow can cause infertility in the animal.
In Suriname, menstrual blood is believed to be dangerous, and a malevolent person can cause harm to a menstruating woman.
In Nepal, the practice of Chhaupadi forces menstruating women and girls to live in animal sheds till the time they become normal.
In Madagascar, some adults believe that they can’t make mayonnaise while on periods and cannot walk through courgettes and pumpkins.
What could be the likely reason for this taboo? Illiteracy, especially in girls, poverty, and a lack of awareness about menstrual health and hygiene can be some of the factors. 23% girls drop out of school due to menstruation and the school›s unfriendly approach towards it. A study conducted by the Institute of Development Studies revealed that, despite being part of the education curriculum, menstruation-related topics were not discussed in schools.
A study in 2016 titled Menstrual Hygiene Management among adolescent girls in India involved nearly 100,000 girls in India. The findings were quite shocking, as 50,000 respondents were not aware of menstruation until they got their first period. It’s quite unfortunate that less than 20% of the menstruating women in India use sanitary napkins despite their huge market availability. They still prefer to use cloth, dried leaves, and newspapers.
Eradicating these evil taboos is not just the task of schools; it needs collective efforts. The Indian government has launched Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkins, which seek to provide biodegradable sanitary pads at Rs 1 per pad. Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on 28 May to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. The Goa government with Procter & Gamble introduced an educational module on menstrual hygiene management as a part of education.
In 2014, P&G started a campaign called “Touch the Pickle.” Another example is a Spain based women’s sportswear brand called Believe Athletics, which collaborated with Delhi-based NGO Dharma Life. The aim was to change the lives of young women in rural India. They started a campaign called “Wind beneath her Wings, where for every sale, the company gives away a sanitary kit to a young girl residing in rural India since 26 January 2019.
Movies like ‘PadMan’, an Oscar winner ‘Period: End of sentence’ has generated wide mass appeal. Apart from them, the role of men is most important. Unequal power relations between men and women result in female voices being unheard in decision-making within households, communities, and development programmes. The stigma around menstruation and menstrual hygiene is a violation of several human rights, like the right to human dignity and the right to freedom from inhumane and degrading treatment from abuse and violence.
