Skip to content
Infano-logo
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close
Infano-logo
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close

Menstruation- More Than “Just A Ladies Thing”

Written By: Infano
May 18, 2021

Highlights

  1. Menstruation – and the tools required to safely process it – became just another means to discriminate against an entire gender, simply because patriarchy felt nauseated by a natural human phenomenon.
  2. Stigma, like charity, begins at home. 
  3. Imagine if someone told an inquisitive kid, “it’s the superpower that made it possible for your mum to give birth to you”, instead of “it’s private ladies’ stuff, move on”.
  • Quick Read
  • Full Read

As a kid, my introduction to menstruation was through sanitary pads wrapped in black polythene, kept hidden away at home, piquing my curiosity. But I never got a straight answer – perhaps because it’s taboo dinner table discussion. With more exposure, I learned about the process of menstruation and the tools equipped to deal with it. Not just that, but also the stigma and awkwardness associated with it. Patriarchy has made it another tool to discriminate against women. Even women sometimes feel a need to hide it, as if it’s a fault. An open discussion is key, to getting rid of this stigma.

Spread the love

This Content is a Part of The Menstrual Hygiene Awareness 2021, in collaboration with The Logical Indian and Pee Safe.

A black polythene bag is closely tucked under her arm as my mom walks into the house, back from the market. Without a word, she rushes to her room and slides the bag along with its contents, into her wardrobe’s drawer. Then comes back out and takes care of the rest of the stuff she bought. 10-year-old me, as you would’ve guessed, is mighty confused. But I forget all about it; kids and voters have a very short memory span, after all.

Growing up, it was hard to ignore references to menstruation, even though I didn’t know anything about it. I saw ads for Whisper, the same package I’d surreptitiously seen in Mom’s drawer. I wondered why a group of grown men were pouring blue ink all over a product that my child’s brain could fathom was very personal to my Mom and my sisters, when none of them used blue ink. And yet my innocent queries were almost always shot down – “It’s just ladies’ stuff”.

It took a biology lesson at school and exposure to the World Wide Web, for me to realize it’s far more than that. Most crucially, sanitary napkins are a privilege that numerous poorer families can either not afford (non-profits and tax policies are helping bridge this gap) or don’t care about, due to the awkwardness surrounding it. “It’s impure”, they say, as they block menstruating women from entering the temple. Menstruating women in some traditional households are outcasts in their own homes. This awkwardness, this stigma, comes at the cost of women’s health. Menstruation – and the tools required to safely process it – became just another means to discriminate against an entire gender, simply because patriarchy felt nauseated by a natural human phenomenon. Stigma, like charity, begins at home.

It was only years later, when I started dating women, that I was jolted out of my passive stance around the topic of menstruation. I got educated in a way that school, society, and family could never; by someone who needed to share how she felt when PMS’ing, just like she would after a bad day at work. Stigma was thrown out the window, simply through an open conversation. That’s all it took. It helped me learn what women have to go through as they menstruate, and not just physically. I met someone who was shy about admitting that she was menstruating. She instinctively felt a need to hide it, as if hiding a fault in her – feeding off of the stigma that clouds this topic. Professional life, I realized, becomes further hell for women. Taking a day off to tend to menstrual cramps is explicitly allowed, but implicitly considered a liability, restricted to one gender. This problem has a far more complex solution than just changing the rules. Changing the rules doesn’t change deep-rooted biases.

 I think the stigma is the root cause of why menstruation is harder to tackle than just the physical side effects of it. Imagine if someone told an inquisitive kid, “it’s the superpower that made it possible for your mum to give birth to you”, instead of “it’s private ladies’ stuff, move on”. I’m sure this kid would grow up to be a better husband, a better boss, a better friend, and a better Dad.

Author- Ashish Jha

I am a period allymen for menstruationmenstrual hygeine dayMenstruationPeriods

Infano

Infano is a platform that aims to impact every facet of a woman's life - health, career, motherhood, lifestyle, and much more. We are a team of like-minded individuals who wish to be a support to women from all walks of life and in everything they do. Our aim, through our posts and articles, is to bring to light the issues and problems that women face in their day-to-day life, to try and make their life a little easier and a little better, provide the latest news updates of women around the world, and to highlight their big and small achievements. We celebrate womanhood each and every day.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Infano Care

These Eco-friendly Period Products Can Change Your Monthly Cycle Entirely!

Written By: Sonali
November 2, 2020 | 11:51 PM |
713
  • Full Read
Spread the love

Remember the wave sanitary napkins aka pads brought when they were first launched into the market? They turned out to be extremely more comfortable than the homemade pads and were decently accessible by girls and women.

However, the constant sweating, sometimes itching and odour that it brought with it was non-negotiable — not to forget the high amount of waste that it generated — both in the form of money and plastic.

Then came tampons — tampons used to be the instant alternative to conventional pads — until they became a major reason for toxic shock syndrome (TSS) — an uncommon yet potentially fatal disease that may happen due to the use of the same tampon for extended hours. 

However, these period products are proving their worth by being an excellent alternative to pads and tampons — not to forget, being sustainable and eco-friendly at the same time.

Menstrual cups

This has to be at the top on my list. Fairly new to the Indian market, menstrual cups are loved by every single girl/ woman who has used it. Though one may find it hard to use initially, these cups are proving to be one of the best alternatives to pads and tampons. Not only can it hold menstrual blood for upto ten hours, but it also comes with a lifetime of at least ten years. Imagine the amount of money one can save with these wonder cups. Menstrual cups are not only easy on the pocket but also great for the environment as they are considered to be a sustainable and eco-friendly option.

Cloth pads

Inspired by the traditional homemade cloth pads, these cotton pads are great alternatives to the conventional disposable pads. Like homemade pads, these are also reusable, but unlike them, these are made of waterproof fabric, thus reducing the chances of any leakage. They come with wings, are super comfortable, eco-friendly and easily washable and hence easy on your pockets too.

Periods pants

Imagine waking up one day while menstruating and not worrying about changing the pads. Made up of absorbent fabric, period pants could be an excellent alternative to your regular pads — particularly, if you are someone who is blessed to have a light flow. These are apt for girls who have just started menstruating and cannot keep a count of their monthly cycles. 

Menstrual discs

Menstrual discs could be an unknown product for a lot of women, but these are equally efficient, like any other period product. Not only it lasts for up to twelve hours, but it can also let you enjoy mess-free period sex. Though these discs are not reusable, they are known for producing 60 per cent less waste than tampons which is again a great alternative to disposable menstrual products.

Menstrual sponges

Menstrual sponges are no different than normal sponges — but are designed to be inserted in order to absorb menstrual blood. They could be messy until you get the hang of them. These can be reused for up to a year, thus making them a great eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to regular plastic pads.

Have you used any of these products? Please share your experience with us and guide several other girls/ women in leading a safe waste-free cost-effective period life!

Featured Image

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!

Related Posts

Periods 4 mins Read

Opinion: Inclusive Menstrual Health Education In India!

Written By: Sonali May, 20 2022 | 03:23 PM
Periods 4 mins Read

Why Is Good Thyroid Health Important For Good Menstrual Health?

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 30 2021 | 10:00 AM
Periods 3 mins Read

Periods do not define your gender

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 30 2020 | 01:39 PM
Periods 4 mins Read

The Benefits Of Ovulation For Maintaining Good Health

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin December, 28 2021 | 02:10 PM
Periods 5 mins Read

Everything you need to know about Menstrual Disc and How it differs from a Menstrual Cup

Written By: Sindhu Kambam May, 10 2021 | 09:13 PM
Periods 3 mins Read

Not All Premenstrual Symptoms Indicate Good Menstrual Health

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 4 2021 | 10:00 AM
Health & Fitness 2 mins Read

These Eco-friendly Period Products Can Change Your Monthly Cycle Entirely!

Written By: Sonali November, 2 2020 | 11:51 PM
HerStory 4 mins Read

This NGO founder Is On ‘Mission Menstruation’

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin May, 27 2021 | 09:05 AM
Periods 3 mins Read

It’s Time to Involve Men in Menstrual Talks: #MondayMenstruation

Written By: Sindhu Kambam June, 7 2021 | 09:00 AM
Health & Fitness 4 mins Read

Here is All You Need to Know About Absent Menstruation(Amenorrhea)

Written By: Infano January, 5 2021 | 11:42 AM
Health & Fitness 2 mins Read

A Doctor’s Experience of Bleeding in Her PPE During COVID Duty

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin July, 6 2020 | 12:00 PM
Periods 7 mins Read

Switching to a Menstrual Cup? This Lady Will Tell You How to Ace It!

Written By: Sonali July, 13 2020 | 11:01 AM
Health & Fitness 4 mins Read

How Accessible Is Menstrual Hygiene In India?

Written By: Misha January, 25 2022 | 03:50 PM
Periods 2 mins Read

Ways to Deal with the Symptoms of Menopause

Written By: Shweta Suvarna February, 28 2021 | 05:49 PM
Periods 3 mins Read

How to deal with depression and mood swings during menopause

Written By: Infano April, 27 2020 | 03:02 PM
Periods 3 mins Read

#MyPeriodBuddy: Share Your Story Of Happiness!

Written By: Sonali May, 24 2022 | 11:11 AM

Subscribe to our Newsletter

To keep yourself updated with women-related news around the globe, articles, opinions, suggestions and exclusive offers that you should not miss, subscribe to our newsletter.

    Home | About Us | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Cancellations and Refund Policy | Privacy Policy
    © 2023 Infano Women's Health | Lifestyle | Success Stories • Powered by GeneratePress

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.