My period, My proud

She bleed, she is unsafe , she is untouchable, her menstrual blood is impure but the irony is it is the same blood that pileup in different body to hold them for so long nine months.

There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. menses, periods, dates, monthly problems, etc. but when a girl starts growing she is accustomed teach about periods to not talking with anyone when she visited a medical store she is accustomed teach bringing pads in a black polybag to cover up in a newspaper why so? this can be a question? when we can always buy condoms publicly, why not pads thanks to our Indian culture, which taught us that a lady should be within her limits when periods have numerous names so why feel shame?

Are periods bad, is blood impure, is blood toxic? to understand further read the blog and much more about mensuration and Indian culture has perceptions about menstruating. 

What is exactly Menstruation called?

Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs In Every month, it happens because your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. The period blood  is the tissues inside the uterus. It passes out of the body through the vagina. Periods usually start between ages 11 and 14 and continue till menopause at age 50. They usually last from three to five days. Besides bleeding from the vagina, you may have:

• Abdominal Pain
• Lower back pain
• Bloating
• Food cravings
• Mood swings 
• Headache and fatigue
• Premenstrual syndrome [PMS]

Why must Indian culture combat the shame of Menstruation? 

Discrimination against menstruating women is extensive in Indian culture where periods have long been an infinite deal and regarded as impure. They are often excluded from social and spiritual events, denied entry into temples and shrines, and even kept out of kitchens. From an early age, girls learn to live with the pain and fear girl seeking help when in physical and mental discomfort because of mensuration. But with a surge in the use of social media in recent years, women have begun sharing their stories about menstruation too.

Yet this freedom is typically questioned and folks sharing their stories are threatened with bans, per one study, only 36% of India’s 355 million menstruating females use sanitary napkins, while the rest use old cloths, ash, leaves, mud, and soil, and such other life-threatening materials to manage their blood flow. And menstrual health experts say this coronavirus crisis has worsened matters further in India.

The country is under a strict lockdown which has severely impacted the production and supplies of menstrual hygiene products Coronavirus sparks a sanitary pad crisis in IndiaStripped for standing up to ‘period-phobic’ college also period poverty doesn’t only affect women in India.

Taboos on Menstruation in India

Taboos and myths regarding menstruation, often derived from the Hindu religion, impact women in altogether aspects of their lives. The undisguised sickening towards mensuration can affect adversely on girl’s emotional and physical health. This lack of information is actually because of the deeply rooted taboos in Indian culture.Nearly 75 per cent of women in India would love using plastic bags or newspapers as a substitute because social pressures make them tentative to shop for sanitary products. Menstruation in India could also be a closed-off topic that finishes up in many young girls feeling ashamed of their bodies.

In Indian culture, taboos get formed when certain beliefs stay identical over a particular period of a while. These beliefs get set and become so embedded in our collective true being that we refuse to abandon them even when the circumstances during which they originated change.

Top Five Facts About Period Poverty in India

1. Increased risk of disease: In India, an estimated 70 per cent of all reproductive diseases are caused by poor menstrual hygiene. Women often use dirty rags as a replacement for sanitary pads. Even rags that are cleaned can still develop bacteria if not dried properly. Furthermore, 63 million adolescent girls in India, do not have access to a toilet in their homes.

2. Cultural stereotypes: Menstruation in India is sometimes seen as a shameful conversation. Studies estimate that 71 per cent of women do not have any knowledge about menstrual health until after their period of play. Women are often described as “dirty” while menstruating and are commonly separated within the house when dining, praying or participating in other activities.

3. The high cost of sanitation facilities: Third on the list of the best five facts about period poverty in India is the expense of menstrual products. Approximately 70.62 million people in India sleep in extreme poverty on but $1.90 dollars per day. the common Indian woman needs 300 rupees ($4.20) per month for menstrual products. For low-income households, the worth of sanitary pads is usually unattainable.

4. Period poverty in India affects education: On average, girls skip their six days of sophistication monthly due to the shame surrounding their periods. This contributes to the number of ladies in India who drop out of school annually, around 23 per cent. Girls that leave school are stunted in their careers and are more likely to become child brides.

5. Removal of taxes: While some parts of the period of poverty seem daunting, other parts seem hopeful. In 2017, the Indian government labelled menstrual products as luxury goods. Quickly after the announcement of the new tax, the general public gathered to campaign against it. In July 2018, the govt. removed the tax, thus making sanitary products more accessible to low-income households.

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Outlook

We need to indicate to our girls and ladies the need for menstrual hygiene products and also the pitfalls of wrong methods. A high incidence of cervical cancer is reportedly linked to infections from a soiled and damp cloth. a little amount of ₹25-₹30 for sanitary napkins won’t only prevent infections but also allow a woman to live her life and ensure a lady doesn’t lose two-three days of her livelihood monthly. There is a strong need for each of us to openly talk about periods. Let’s talk about periods and no longer stay silent.

FAQ’S