I am a bit baffled over the fact that in some countries, menstruation still remains as a taboo subject.
Some people are even being noticed as a rather peculiar group that may even blindly and ignorantly treat the English noun “Menstruation” as a phenomenon that could even be rude, crude and indiscreet on which they refrain from making a comment in public, wrongly assuming that it would tarnish their name as well brought up folk.
I read an article, compiled by a BBC journalist where the writer comes out with an interesting suggestion to replace the noun “Menstruation” even with some phrases which have the style of figurative language that add a creative flourish to the written or the spoken language.
Being inspired by the richness of the English language’s euphemisms, the writer incredibly brings out several floridness and pretence that give a regal alternative for the popularly known English noun; rag week, rusty pipes, blood rain and red sea are among a few of substitutions that had been brought into the notice of the reader.
I have also heard that period poverty is wrapped and concealed under the cover of science, taint, blot and remorse filled with stigma.
Menstrual products
While the taboos, associated with menstruation, access to menstrual products becomes an integral part and parcel of daily living; personal hygiene stands as one of the most significant elements in this sensitive condition of human life.
Regardless of the richness of your vocabulary related to periods, still there seems to be hesitation and introversion in having a concrete discussion about the matter of menstruation itself.
As if you dwell in a taboo area, you tend to settle your notion, musing, intimacy and know- how under the carpet and that leads to the easy multiplication of false notion, fables and saga involved with periods. Period poverty thrives in situations of this calibre.
With around 800 million people between the ages of 15-49 around the world menstruating, their menstrual hygiene takes centre stage; knowledge on this biological condition is of paramount importance while the same ensures their safety.
Despite by the fact that the present day world context is heavily infected with the benefits of scientific and technological developments, still some vicious and treacherous myths have infiltrated the subject of menstruation; this prevalence is highly distinguished in some parts of the world, notably augmented by cultural constraints.
In some countries, there is a blind belief that menstruation blood is grimy, grubby and filthy. As that being so, periods are vile and disgraceful. This myth comes into being due to sheer ignorance that simultaneously ends up being the root cause, leading towards the exclusion and oppression of girls and young women living in the places where menstruation is rooted as a taboo subject among the people whose beliefs on the matter in hand may bring disastrous situations to the women who become the baseless victims of cultural ramifications.
‘Chhaupadi’
The BBC says that in the kingdom of Nepal, a certain tradition which is called ‘Chhaupadi’ is still being practised despite being banned in 2017.
This practice forces the menstruating girl to be away from her family home and to stay in exile in a purported place which is known as “Menstruation Huts”.
It is also criticised that these so called huts are not properly and safely able to house the girls and young women during their periods; it is reported that some women have also lost their lives while at least one young girl got killed after being bitten by poisonous snakes.
A young woman, living in an improvised tribal society, getting her first periods may have an emotional hallucination with the cultural and religious taboos on menstruation.
Girls and young women in some societies may be caught in an unbreakable web of cultural traditions that have been there from time immemorial, putting restrictions on women, encouraged by the myths surrounded by menstruation.
Albeit you may doubt on the authenticity of the news that in some parts of India, it is heard that women bury cloths used during their periods, assuming that it would fend them off from evil attacks.
Girls, living in the taboo infected countryside of some South Asian and South African regions would say that they get immensely embarrassed as they get to a nearby boutique where there is a male vendor to buy their sanitary pads; they would avoid getting to such a place and instead would look for a female vender who herself would even sell the pads in a black polybag or wrap it in a newspaper; this is a harsh taboo that would even insult the essence of the womanhood itself.
Anybody who recognises the power of the menstrual cycle and its commanding power and the demanding ability of deciding on the human survival would never say that “she is dirty, she is not safe as she bleeds”. No woman should give a despairing little shrug over their right of being transparent and feeling comfortable with their periods.
