Shhh…! You can’t talk about ‘such things’ in public! Such things? PERIODS. Why the topic of periods cannot be talk about openly in India? We have grown up in a society where talking about periods or raising questions are silenced by our elders, teachers or friends. So many unrealistic myths of periods are made by society, listening to which compels us to think and say, ‘like really?’
The most common myth on periods is that ‘Periods Are Impure.’ Maybe this is another cause why India or Indians are still falling back in case of modernization and open talks.
Introduction to periods
Meaning
Periods or menstrual cycle is the time, in which a woman’s body sheds blood and undergoes various changes, to prepare for pregnancy. Each month, our body releases an egg from one of the ovaries which is said to be ovulation. Hormonal changes at this time get the uterus ready for pregnancy. If the released egg isn’t fertilized during ovulation, the lining of the uterus is shed through the vagina, which is called menstrual period.
Normal age of Beginning of Periods
Women start menstruating at the average age of 12. However, one can begin menstruating as early as 10 years old or as late as 16 years old. Having periods around this age is considered as normal
Recent research in the US has claimed that nowadays, girls are getting their first periods, earlier than the average age. Not only in the U.S but globally, the issue of hitting early periods, is raising.
Myths of Periods
Menstruation is a distinguishing phenomenon that is part of a female’s life. However, it has always been considered a taboo and various myths are associated with it making a woman preventing another woman from attending social events and some even isolating them. Let’s delve deeper into this topic.
You are Impure
Turning back to history, menstruation has always been surrounded with number of taboos and myths, particularly in countries like India, Bali, Nepal, Israel and Sri Lanka. The most common belief on periods is that a woman who is having her menstrual cycle, is impure and not clean.
In India, this myth is often linked to religious beliefs, prohibiting the woman from attending or even entering the temple, a religious event, as their ‘impurity’ in those days will affect the purity of the sacred place.
Going back to the ancient time lack of proper knowledge and easy access to sanitation facilities, people tagged the period as not ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’. But with evolving time and growing society, these societal norms were created, which are totally unusual and irrelevant.
Food will Spoil, if you’ll touch it in Periods
Another unaccountable myth about periods is that the food will get spoiled upon touching, by a menstruating woman. In India, it is believed that food more specifically, pickles will get spoil, if you touch it during your periods. Not only in India, even countries like Indonesia, Bolivia and Hungary, there are myths like food will rot fast or will get curdle, if a menstruating woman touches it.
You can’t cook or bake, while on your Periods
Another common belief in Indian households is that the woman can’t cook or bake anything, especially for religious events, while being on periods. It is believed that, if the woman will cook, the food might not turn out right. It will become impure in case of preparing it for religious purpose.
Taboo to Discuss Periods
In India and several other cultures, periods are being considered as a private matter. It is omething which you should be having shame, when talking in front of the elders, especially men. The conversations related to periods are said to be ‘shameless’ and ‘impure’, and should not be said in public. Ignoring or restricting the discussions of periods can lead to severe causes, like lack of knowledge about this topic in girls, resulting in panic and confusion about having first period and seeing the blood.
Damage Caused
The lack of awareness and knowledge among people, be it woman or man, has so far already caused too much of damage to the society. A number of cases have been reported, including suicide attempt, depression, stress on seeing period blood, suspecting and creating their own imaginations about having some sort of disease. The reason, lack of knowledge!
“14-year-old Dies by Suicide in Mumbai, Family Says She Was Stressed by Her First Period”– News18
“Thane man mistakes menstrual blood to be result of sex, tortures 12-yr-old sister to death”– India Today
These are not the only cases that we come across daily. Hundreds of more such cases are untouched about girls ending their life due to periods, unbearable pain or lack of the necessities required during that cycle. All the cases point in one direction which is not talking about periods freely or not guiding the girls in a right direction, during the beginning of their menstrual cycle.
Initiative by the Sanitary Brands
As India is changing and being more vocal towards various societal issues, a many sanitary brands are coming forward. Through their creative initiatives, they are educating society and how to confront your child during the beginning of her menstruation. The most impressive part of these ads is including men, raising awareness and breaking the silence about taboos created.
Exploring old stories about periods shows us what people used to believe and do. But it also shows why we need to make things better. We’re working towards a world where everyone feels included and knows the truth about menstruation. That means leaving behind old ideas that aren’t true and learning to understand periods with kindness and logic.
Naina Jaggi is an author deeply rooted in Journalism, mainly writing on lifestyle, entertainment, travel, politics and financial markets. This diverse experience has allowed her to blend rich details with engaging narratives that capture the essence of various worlds. When she is not crafting tales, you’ll find her immersed in music and enjoying the company of dogs. She is also into K-dramas, thriller and horror movies that fuel her imagination, bringing the same spark to her stories.
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