You’re on your periods? Ssshhh!
The world’s not allowed to know that you’re a normal woman who is functioning as she is supposed to, biologically.
Menstrual cycle: Another major taboo topic.
Did you know that a timely menstrual cycle is a woman’s body’s way of saying all’s well? Women are able to conceive and give birth once she started menstruating. But still, hushed voices, closed doors.
You go to the market to buy sanitary pads and you’ve got the packet wrapped in layers of covering or so. There’s an instant air of awkwardness on the sheer mentioning of this topic. Women aren’t supposed to go to various religious places because they’re menstruating. Why? Because that’s how it has always been? Save your breath. Do you have any scientific reason? Or is it because God will feel bad? Back then, when science had still not understood reproduction and the menstrual process, many myths and superstitions came about.
Menstruating woman are considered impure, dirty, sick etc. But that’s really not the case. She’s simply going through a normal bodily function.
On December 10, 2014, women employees, all under the age of 50, at a private firm in the Special Economic Zone in Kochi were allegedly stripped after their lady supervisors wanted to know who had left a used sanitary napkin in toilet. As their grilling did not help find the woman who used the napkin, the supervisors decided to go for the humiliating examination. Police have registered a case against two lady supervisors on charges of outraging the modesty of women. The state women’s commission has intervened in the incident. The firm, Asma Rubber Private Limited, was temporarily shut down and a lady supervisor, another assistant supervisor and a sweeper were suspended.The most worrying thing isn’t that this incident took place but, WHY it took place.
The Logical Indian community believes that a healthy society is one which accepts it as a natural process and respect a woman experiencing menstruation.
-Anoushka Saharoy
Columnist, The Logical Indian
