Rithvikhaa Sathish, Grade 9
High School Finalist
Redmond, WA
From a Gift to a Curse; The Discrimination Against Menstruating Women in India
Women are the linchpin of the Indian family. It is their domestic efforts that have ensured the stability of their families for generations. Moreover, as women have entered the Indian workforce, they are now contributing even more to their families’ economic prosperity. Indian women work hard both in their homes and outside to generate success for themselves and their loved ones. However, Indian women’s ambitions for themselves and their families are often curtailed by cultural taboos which limit their participation in society. One of the most egregious examples of these types of social limits is the continued discrimination that menstruating women face in spite of our country’s rapid modernization. Menstruating women are considered ‘impure’ and are forced to limit their participation in multiple economically productive and socially meaningful activities. During their period, women are often not allowed to engage in domestic chores, attend school, or even enter places of worship. Moreover, the social taboos which surround menstruation create access barriers to the hygiene products that women require to manage their periods. Access to feminine hygiene products has been a pressing issue in India for a long time and doesn’t receive sufficient attention either domestically or within the Indian diaspora. This is an easily remedied problem, and the implementation of simple solutions would ensure that women throughout India, regardless of their socio-economic class, could continue to support their families and realize their ambitions.
Social taboos around menstruation have a long history in India, and their foundations are often religious. For example, according to the Rig Veda, women menstruate to help the god Indra absolve his sins. The consequences of these deep-rooted traditions have given menstruation significant detrimental social and cultural associations. And women bear the brunt of these taboos. Menstruating women are usually left in solitary confinement. They are restricted from entering places of worship, cooking meals, or working in the fields. These actions are practiced with the belief that anything a woman touches at this time will be tainted. In addition to these social burdens, products like pads are considered “luxury items.” Oftentimes, women in rural areas are forced to use pieces of clothing to manage menstruation. This leads to serious health problems such as vaginal and urinary tract infections, which in turn can create economic hardships for families. Despite India’s rapid cultural and economic modernization, these cultural practices remain frustratingly pervasive. For example, according to a study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 85% of girls in North India between the ages of 13 - 19 practiced different restrictions during their menstruation. Moreover, only 47.5% of the participants believed that periods were a physiological process. The data presented is strong evidence that cultural practices pertaining to menstruation limit women’s freedom. It leads to more absences from school or work, deepening the gender divide and placing hard limits on what Indian women can achieve.
So, what can we do?
The first and easiest step is to make sure affordable healthcare products are more accessible to women, particularly in rural and poorer areas of the country. Fundraisers or the distribution of free products, subsidized by either government or private industry, are easy ways to increase accessibility and ensure women get the right products. However, while solutions such as those outlined above would be effective at solving the immediate problem, they don’t cure the underlying illness. The inaccessibility of menstrual hygiene products is a symptom of a more significant issue that our country faces, namely the cultural limitations that Indian women are subjected to.
The real question is how do we solve the more prominent issue?
Culture is a unique and vital feature of any society. Culture not only dictates social convention, but it also informs the identities of those of what a part of any given society. However, culture shouldn’t limit one from participating or contributing to the development of their community. A plausible solution for this problem is better education about periods. Many rural villagers in India do not know about the biology that underpins menstruation. Moreover, rural women are often afraid to even discuss about periods. And even when they do, their voices aren’t heard. Family members leave it to women to solve menstrual problems. Education is essential, so villages must create safe spaces where women can talk about their menstruation without feeling uncomfortable. Educated schoolgirls from urban cities in India can visit villages and talk to them about the biology behind menstruation and provide more information on sanitary menstruation products. In addition, encouraging organizations like Whisper to speak to villagers and give free samples can benefit rural women. When villages change perspectives, they will create a space where women are appreciated. Young girls and women will be comfortable talking to a family member about any issue they have. Women will be encouraged to get an education and go to work. All in all, women can bring pride to their village with just one opportunity to walk past the barrier.
Education about menstruation starts in rural villages in India, but being here in the US, we can help spread the word about how important this issue is. Being a woman shouldn’t prevent anyone from being successful and changing perspectives on menstruation is one of the best ways to start healing this issue. We can help families in India view menstruation differently. Creating videos about menstruation and sharing them with a village’s Panchayat (village board) can educate everyone about the real reasons behind menstruation. Putting these videos in theaters before a movie starts will also ensure more people understand the harsh consequences of these cultural traditions. If we start talking to family and relatives in India about the positive aspects of menstruation, Indian women will have more opportunities to participate in social activities. Positive comments about periods will create more chances for women to break the barriers. Women of any background shouldn’t think of periods as a curse. As a woman myself, I believe that if we stop the discrimination against menstruating women in India, women from any background will be empowered to contribute to our society’s economic prosperity.
The upshot of adopting these policies means that most of the Indian communities will be mobilized toward economic development. When given more opportunities, society at large always prospers. If the Indian diaspora in the US changes the perspective of menstruation in Indian communities, we increase accessibility and inspire different countries to help women with similar struggles. Discrimination against menstruating women is everywhere. Moreover, change starts with us, and together we can make this world a place for women to prosper. Helping resolve this issue helps resolve other stereotypical problems women face not only in India but in other countries as well. Solving one issue creates the domino effect and helps us potentially heal the gender divide prevalent in society today.
Women are the caretakers of the world. They are honored and celebrated for many things. India is a country well known for respecting women in various ways. However, this celebration doesn’t translate to the way society treats women each month. It is time we take action to empathize with and support menstruating women. I urge everyone to step forward, where the heroes get the freedom they deserve.
Works Cited
1. Anand, Tanu, and Suneela Garg. Menstruation Related Myths in India: Strategies for Combating It. 2015. National Library of Medicine, https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.154627. Accessed 29 May 2022.
2. FSG. Menstrual Health in India | Country Landscape Analysis. Menstrual Hygiene Day, menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_India.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2022.
3. Shekhar, Raj. "Women's Sanitary Health in India: A Tale of Social Inequality and Basic Sanitation." Women's Sanitary Health in India: A Tale of Social Inequality and Basic Sanitation, 18 Sept. 2020, blogs.lse.ac.uk/socialpolicy/2020/09/18/womens-sanitary-health-in-india-a-tale-of-social-inequality-and-basic-sanitation/. Accessed 29 May 2022.
4. Singh, Neetu, et al. Comparison of Awareness and Perception of Menstrual Hygiene between Pre and Postmenarchal Adolescents of North India. Nov. 2021. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_672_21. Accessed 29 May 2022.
5. "Why India Must Battle the Shame of Period Stain." BBC, 28 May 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52830427. Accessed 29 May 2022.