While period goes public, taboos live on!

Women nowadays are setting themselves at ease when it comes to talking about their period in public. They are embracing the fact that menstruation is a common phenomenon and there is absolutely nothing to hide or feel ashamed about. We often see ourselves discussing about it to people; be it family, peers or even friends of opposite gender, for that matter.

Young girls today are making efforts to enlighten themselves and others about the concept of menstruation and as to why it is not a topic to be alienated. “The girls out there have taken it upon themselves to discuss and educate friends and family, irrespective of which gender they belong to, about their menstrual state of being. They freely talk about it to the opposite sex, share experiences and treat it as normal as anything else,” says HelaaPonnala, a student of St. Francis.

“Period talks have become so common that it hardly turns a head now. It is being treated more human than alien. Thanks to the fast-changing perspective of people!” says Vaishali Cilarapu, a medical student, Bhaskar Medical College, Moinabad.

While few of us are busy propagating the liberty of menstrual speech, the others are unfortunately doing just the opposite.For them, menstruation comes with numerous clauses which are most certainly based on false beliefs. For Instance, ask yourself -

Are you kept isolated when on your period?
Is kitchen off-limits for you?
Are you treated impure?

Pursuing beliefs like these has ultimately put forth several socio-cultural challenges for women. It affects their emotional being, mentality, lifestyle and the overall health.It has been found that nearly 25% of women in India are said to succumb to menstrual taboos.

Menstrual taboos haveitself been a taboo in India for quite some time now.Yet, time and again women are subject to trivial restrictions even in their daily lives. Sometimes, women opt to halt their daily activities owing to these vague restrictions.For instance, women aren’t allowed to enter the kitchen because they are in the state of ‘impurity’. For the same reason, they are asked to keep away from everyone and everything. Sometimes even dietary restrictions are imposed onto menstruating girls. It is said that sour foods like yogurt, pickles etc.

interrupt the menstrual flow. As far as exercise is concerned, a recent study revealed that many adolescent girls avoid working out because it intensifies dysmenorrheal also known as menstrual pain while the truth is that exercise relieves the pain.

“Menstruation is a type of development in the body. A woman doesn’t have to be put in an embarrassing situation just because she is on her period. What if a woman is independent and must cook for herself? Will that stop her from going to the kitchen?” says Mona Jethani, a student.

Menstruation does not necessarily mean keeping off-work or following restricted diet plans. I’ve come across many patients who indulge themselves in bed rest even though they don’t experience any menstrual severities. The need for rest and control on diet is more individualistic in nature” says Dr Indira Rani, a Gynecologist.

By: Trisha Reddy