Normalising Menstruation

Periods are a natural part of being female and yet, a new poll has revealed that more than half of women feel embarrassed by them. Sometimes it’s the silent pressure of censoring yourself, whether you feel you have to sneak pads up your sleeve when you visit to put one on, or you’ve mastered the art of hiding waste wrappers from your dad or brother.Not only this but even girls are not free many times to have a nice and cozy period talk with their mother, grandmother or sisters because they may many consider it as 'dirty talks'. Cultural attitudes that require girls and women to maintain secrecy and silence regarding menstruation contribute to the experience of menstrual shame. Other times, period shaming is more obvious, with people being excluded from work, school or community activities. Not only this but even girls are not free many times to have a nice and cozy period talk with their mother, grandmother or sisters because they may many consider it as 'dirty talk'. Out shopping, at work, in school or at home – you can be menstruating anywhere, anytime so why does society act so strange about it. Period Shame can lead to period taboos, and that taboos can keep women and girls from touching water or cooking, attending religious ceremonies, or engaging in community activities. These taboos reinforce gender-based discrimination, perpetuating the idea the menstruating women and girls are unclean.When we surveyed women across the world, and 81% of women said they have refrained from everyday activities while on their period. 1 in 5 said they feel dirty or disgusting when they have their period, wooh what's known? Nothing more to say. Right now, 800 million women are menstruating in the world, which is very normal so why the shame. Why does society make it an issue? Why don't we just understand that having a period is very normal but not having it is a problem?

Written by Mahek Sharma.