INTRODUCTION:
Katha Pollitt Says,
WHILE WOMAN SHEDS THE BLOOD OF LIFE EACH MOON AT MENSTRUATION, MAN CAN ONLY SHED BLOOD OF DEATH THROUGH WARFARE AND KILLING.
Menstruation is one of the key phenomena experienced by millions of women and girls each month throughout the globe and is somethings that needs to be badly addressed .It is the flow of blood for 2-7 days due shedding of inner most layer of endometrium along with release of unfertilized egg from women’s vagina every month. This 28-day long cycle onsets at puberty which is called menarche (11-16 yrs.) and ending phases of menstrual cycle are called menopause (45-50 yrs.). Ironically the process is not that smooth on itself.
Menstruation cycle overall is marked by hormonal changes during different times of the month. Our uterus is undergoing changes. The body and mood changes before (4 days) and (2 to 3 days) during menstruation are termed as PRE-MENSTRUAL SYDROME (PMS). It is common in 4/5 women and is marked by 150 known symptoms naming few breasts tenderness, fatigue, depression, mood swings, food cravings, acne, bloating and above all irritability. Intensity of these obviously vary from women to women. The PMS gets worse with age especially when one reaches pre menopause.
Now coming to the sufferings on onset of periods, first few days especially first day is marked by heavy flow preceded and followed by cramps.in 10 out of 100 women, this pain is so intense that it retards their normal activity in the first few days. Women suffering PCOS AND PCODs encounter irregular periods either too short or no periods or too prolonged.
ABSTRACT:
Women face a number of problems due to this biological phenomenon hence under these circumstances, when you are bleeding, emotionally and physically drained, you have certain expectations from the people around you. Even little affection coupled with sympathy can do miracles on its own. This brings us to the main topic that this policy paper addresses that is understanding and DEBUNKING AN ERA OF MENSTRUAL TABOO IN INDIA. This policy paper shall focus on the basic problems, their causes and impacts of sticking to the myths exuded by so-called socio-cultural norms along with emphasis on possible recommendations to bring mankind out of this paradox. It is ironic to see that in this age of technology and advancement, menstruation is still considered a taboo-a stigma to women especially in Indian an aspiring regional hegemon. Women are still socially segregated, looked down upon and considered impure and unfit for certain tasks. This phase renders them unsuitable for certain activities because they do not fit the so-called standards of purity or society when they are bleeding. This varies from the condition where they are looked down upon to them being untouchable and kept is isolation. Moreover, the lack of awareness due to Lack of openness to discuss topic and scarcity of basic education on the topic effects women health disproportionately. The overall enigma is the clear depiction of patriarchal mindset. Basic education of menstruation and hygiene practices related to it guidelines regarding managing an early or unexpected period should be given should be provided to all students irrespective of gender so that male students also know how to deal with the situation and help their female fellows in case.
CAUSES:
- RELIGIOUS PARADOX:
The major cause of this dilemma in India has religious roots. It is considered that Indira the king of heavens slayed a serpent and was in guilt. This guilt was taken by mortal women who bleed every month. This association of bleeding with guilt leads to the concept of impurity and dirtiness. Brahmins being upper Hindu class associate themselves with purity therefore forming an exclusive and oppressive environment.
- CULTURE OF SILENCE LEADING TO UNAWARENESS:
Lack of openness to discussion leads to ack of awareness, illiteracy and ignorance also play an important role. Discussing the topic openly is almost a sin. Mothers who are never able to speak for their rights pass the norm to the daughters. Overall there is this inheritance of silence. Women either do not know what a period is until and unless encountered and panic when they first experience it or they do not know the actual cause of the blood flow. Even majority of the women remain unaware of their anatomy due to this shame factor. Majority of girls know about menstruation from their mothers, female friends or sisters which throws light on the fact that formal education on this topic is almost missing from Indian society.
- LACK OF INCENTIVE ON WOMEN’S BEHALF:
The incentive on women behalf to take stand and strive for betterment in their conditions is also lacking. They even do not stand up for their rights and continue the tradition of silent and unsaid sufferings.
- LACK OF ACCESS:
Lack of facilities due to the prices and lack of availability of sanitary napkins add to the problem further.
EFFECTS:
- SOCIAL SEGREGATION:
There are common practices in Indian society where women are being told that pickle will turn sour, sweets becoming inedible and meals becoming impure if women touch them during menstruation. Hence, they are not allowed to enter kitchens. In fact women are sent to menstruating huts leading to their complete exclusion in their menstruating days. This is a common practice in many Indian states and tribes such as Gonds and Madiya from Maharashtra, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. These bathroom less huts usually located outside village near a forest, lacking basic necessities and vulnerable to many hazards such as animal especially snake bites, inhalation of smoke, mosquitos and victimization by sexual predators prove to be a huge misery and some severe cases can even be life threatening.
- SCARCITY OF HYGEINE:
Majority of women use reusable cloth to absorb the blood flow. In addition to this ashes, newspaper, dried leaves are also used. This demands the cloth to be washed properly and dried in sunlight to prevent bacterial growth. Taboos attached to the topic make changing, washing and drying of cloth very difficult along with lack of awareness about the necessity of menstrual hygiene that welcomes miseries. Women and girls either don’t bother to change clothes owing to fear or unawareness, the overall embarrassment compels them to dry cloth in a dark secretive place and reusing them before being properly dried. This welcomes many urinary tract infections. The women who use sanitary napkins are not exception to this misery. The lack of awareness about use, change and disposal of sanitary napkins pose potent threats. These unhygienic sanitary practices lead to health issues such as urinary tract infections, bacterial infections and in severe case it can cause cervical cancer. The sanitary pads are made of material that covert liquid into gel, prolonged use serve as breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. The dilemma Is that the proper treatment of such hazards related to physical health are not pursued. This shows how the lack of importance of the topic.
- EDUCATIONAL CRISIS:
Absentees from schools or even drop outs can be seen on onset of periods which serve as a potent hurdle in the way of female education.IN 2014 an NGO named Dasra working in India reported that there were 23 million dropouts from schools annually in 2014. Even girls who continued their education encountered 5 absentees a month.
- GENDER INEQUALITY:
The overall exclusion of women from social, religious affairs, household chores depict clear patriarchal mindset. There seclusion make them question their existence. The concept of impurity and guilt associated retards the dignity of women. In fact, some young girls who are immature enough start thinking the way they are told. This makes them believe that they are not worth care, attention and equality like their male counterparts in short, which is a basic right of living healthy and happy life.
- BIFURCATION OF THE ENTIRE TERM:
Mothers themselves are unaware of the importance of sanitary health and different menstrual tools, passing the information to their daughters is impossible and giving education to their boy child on this topic cannot be even thought. These are the sons who bully their fellow females as they consider periods to be a women related problem. The whole term has been compartmentalized this way.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The following recommendations can be considered with regard to this problem
- OPENESS:
Strains and stigmas attached to these terms is the root cause of unawareness. When we are unable to discuss a topic openly nothing can be solved. Firstly, make it okay to talk about this thing. Normalize the topic to an extent that women do not fear open discussion. Social media and mainstream media can serve as potent platforms.
- END BIFURCATION BASED ON GENDER:
The second step should be the end of typical thinking that menstruation is merely a problem for women. Men need to be taught that it also defines their role as a son, brother, husband and father. Men know what the phenomenon of menstruation is but they do not know how to deal with the situation in case their female counterparts encounter emergency. The issue of menstruation should not be LIMITED to a specific gender. In fact, both genders should come together for the cause. Men are also involved in this whole tussle it’s high time that this matter should be addressed among both female and male students coming out of the shackles of embarrassment, cultural and so-called moral restraints that have overall effected women health in the worst way possible.
- MENSTRUAL EDUCATION:
Basic education of menstruation and hygiene practices related to it, guidelines regarding managing an early or unexpected period should be given to all students irrespective of gender so that male students also know how to deal with the situation and help their female fellows in case. Education institutes should make sure to raise sufficient awareness regarding the issue. In addition to that, sanitary napkin changing and disposal abilities should be introduced at schools and colleges that can ensure the decrease and ultimately end in dropout rates.
- NATIONAL INITIATIVES:
- Overall initiative should be taken on national level to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene covering all aspects from timely changing of sanitary napkin to its proper disposal especially in rural areas.
- Local sanitary napkin manufacture should be encouraged ensure Increase in availability and affordability of sanitary napkins problem can be managed with dignity without fear.
- Biodegradable sanitary napkins along with their local manufacture should be encouraged to increase availability and affordability.
- INTERNAL EFFORTS WITH IN TRIBES:
External efforts seem useless until and unless people within the society take initiative. Educated and more enlightened community can raise awareness within their society and challenge these norms. Overall government and NGOs can do limited actions since Indian constitution guarantees protection if tribal customs. Any action on government’s behalf will be seen as interference.
- WOMEN’s OWN TURN:
Women in these tribal areas also need to wake up for their rights. They need to throw the shackles of silence and fear looking at better opportunities for themselves ensuring their physical and mental wellbeing as an equal member of a society.
I alone cannot change the world but I can caste a stone across waters to create many ripples-Mother Teresa
- MENSTRUAL LEAVE:
In parts of the country where women do jobs should be granted menstrual leave with pay for 2 days at least. India provides no such legal infrastructure with exception of some private companies and Bihar being only state that gives government approved menstrual leave.
ANALYSIS OF POLICY OPTIONS:
Any change even a change for the better is always accompanied by discomforts says Arnold Bennett
Overcoming the whole sanctions related to the topic is not an easy task at all especially when it is engraved so deep in society in the form of culture and religion. Overall government and NGOs can do limited actions since Indian constitution guarantees protection if tribal customs. Any action on government’s behalf will be seen as an interference. This does not mean that this task is impossible but it is difficult for sure.in fact many tribes in India have given up these practices.it can be seen that huge progress has already been done.28th may is celebrated Menstrual Hygiene Day globally including India. This itself symbolizes that if a country where this topic was not even open to discussion celebrates a day on menstrual hygiene, this means that things have evolved a lot and there is a chance of improvement in future as well.
CONCLUSION:
Menstruation is the symbol of hope, symbol of continuity and ableness to give birth.by associating this with dirtiness and guilt, women are denied of their right of gender equality, education, health and above all a life of dignity.Overall, this stigma is adding to the already existing plethora of problems for women. Various ministries are involved in menstrual health management (MHM). The NGOs are working to burst the myths, spread awareness, provide menstrual tools and safe disposal of menstrual waste. Biodegradable sanitary napkins are being introduced which degrade on contact with oxygen. Ministry of woman and child is addressing needs of girls who are not in school. State’s education department distributes napkins to the school girls. These efforts are commendable but there is a long way to go. Implementing the given recommendations will definitely contribute in eliminating this heinous myth from Indian society and can improve physical, mental health and social status of women where they will be seen with equality and dignity.
MENSTRUATION IS JUST IN BIOLOGY; NEITEHER A TABOO NOR A GUILT
Author: Sehar Atbar
The author is an Undergraduate Student at National Defence University, Islamabad.