Rupali Gupta
“I want to publish or write about something which most people think should be hidden, offended, cheap, or nasty to talk about.”
Few things people consider that it should be behind the opaque curtains or in the dark closed rooms. What are these things …did anybody wonder what all these things I am talking about?? What’s so secretive about those things…..so let me open that opaque curtains or unlock the door of those dark rooms by revealing those hidden things. Well, I am talking about Menstruation, Sanitary pads, tampons (which most people don’t know is used during the menstrual cycle), or menstruation cups. These are few things that still people assume should be said silently or better if we whisper in the chemist’s ear (as if we bitching about his neighbors).
Menstruation is a natural process in women’s bodies where they bleed every month and cleanse their reproductive organs (uterus). We call it by so many names, be it chums, periods, down or Mahawari (in Hindi) etcetera. So, if it’s a natural process then why we feel coy speaking about it publicly that yes m having my period? Why feeling ashamed of having it?? Why we give other excuses for taking a leave from the office when we are having stomach aches due to periods? Menstruation is as normal as somebody pees on a timely basis, then why people make it a big fuss. My point of concern is, now a day’s everybody knows about menstruation be it a girl or boy, both the parents(mother/father) knows that their girl goes through this sooner or later, then why they don’t teach their kids to accept it as a natural process.
In today’s modern age parents should teach their kids, about this natural process called Menstruation, be it a girl or boy. Girls should be bold enough so, if someone asks about them, that why are they feeling low or having stomach ache or simply having mood swings, they can freely say that yes they are having their periods/chums, so please DON’T MESS WITH ME /simply don’t pester me. And boys should know that if girls are on their periods, instead of making fun and irritate them, they should give them space or help them by showing a little care or affection towards them because “No one saw the bloodied body when they passed nearby but everybody noticed those bloodstains on her skirt”, bitter but the truth !!
Let me share one incident with you, once one of my colleagues asks for a day off for her periods but she asks, “I am having a fever that’s why I won’t be able to attend the office” so, when she could say that she was on her time of the monthly cycle, So, instead of fever she could have said that she has to have cramps as she got her periods and she needs a day off for that. There are many more examples like that which we hear every day. There are plenty of reasons be it society, shame, or hesitation, girls couldn’t say it clearly.
Once I heard a girl’s mother saying to her daughter who got her periods, “walk properly, otherwise, everyone got to knows about your periods”, what a shame!! Why she cares what others think when she is not feeling comfortable, it’s her ease, to walk, sit or stand, the way she likes. Everybody should understand it and take it as a normal phenomenon. This is something we need to ponder over and try to do it.
Now let’s talk about sanitary pads, Sanitary pads (SPs) are absorbent material pads that are worn by women during menstruation for uterine flow. So, it’s simple and sounds easy, right? Then what is so secretive or hidden about this?? Why people say silently when they are buying SPs and why the heck chemists cover them when giving them to customers?? These are few questions that bother me whenever I see such things. Though we are living in the 21st century and claim about our modern thinking and open minds, still we teach our girls to say SPs slowly in public and get it in a covered packing. Girls could buy it by clearly asking for it, as there is no shame in buying Sps, tampons, or menstrual cups. These are not taboo in the real-world instead these are necessities as we buy groceries for the kitchen.
There are over 355 million menstruating women and girls in India, but millions of women across the country still face significant barriers to a comfortable and dignified experience with menstrual hygiene. So, if we want to make those numbers decrease and make everyone aware of the fact that, menstrual health and hygiene is not only important to know but it is that mandatory knowledge which we have to apply in our basic lifestyle so that every girl in their initial start should be benefitted of this fact and get proper knowledge and boldness on their own.
I just want to convey this message from my article that females should be bold enough to accept this natural process called menstruation and buy SPs as they buy their cosmetics. Choose your size or brand according to your needs and comfort as these are not some addictive drugs for which you have to hide and buy silently.
So say it loud “Stay bold, kill the shyness, and enjoy your menstrual cycle without any hesitation”
Rupali Gupta is a microbiologist, blogger, compliance operations associate, liberal, and extrovert person.
