Opinion: Inclusive Menstrual Health Education In India!

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Lack of education about menstruation is one of the drawbacks to achieving adequate menstrual hygiene worldwide. Schools offer an important chance to transform menstrual hygiene programs that will benefit young girls in the future.

According to the research, India is home to about 113 million young girls and around 54% of these girls are unaware of menstruation before they have their first period. Around 77% of people aren’t aware that the uterus is the source of the bleeding and only 45% consider that menstruation is normal and a vast majority of people observe religious, socio-cultural and food taboos during their menstruation. In total 70% of mothers consider menstruation to be polluting and dirty and around 63 million girls live in homes which lack bathroom facilities.

Research from 2011 also suggested that in the country 88% of women and girls were using unhygienic, unsafe menstrual absorbents. Later, some progress was seen.

In 2015-16, the latest National Family Health Survey 4, India’s DHS reported that about 42.4% of young women, aged between 15 and 24 are still using unhygienic protection methods during their period.

Lack of education leads to stigma

We can see a bright future for menstrual health education for all genders, but in the previous years when it wasn’t a priority, the adults needed to know about menstrual health later in their life.

Monica Karpinski, founder and editor of The Femedic stated “I know from my world and my research that there is a huge education gap around menstruation. Menstruation is the second most popular category on our site behind sexual health. You can see a real appetite for information which communicates that education is not there to fill that gap.”

This education gap can have contagion effects. Lack of education on menstruation health and hygiene is an important foundation that will maintain the stigma around periods and it will affect a certain group of population. Premenstrual stress is also a domain around periods in which women faced stigma. The health and education of young people who menstruate can also get impacted by facing shame-inducing stigma. Period poverty can also add difficulties and hamper the lives and education of people menstruating.

Mae Matauka, a founder of the Mino Period and a trustee of The Vagina Museum stated, “It is important to remember that period poverty is not confined to just access to menstrual products. It also includes having poor knowledge of menstruation. This goes to have a more open and frank conversation about menstruation and more information and resources that will help tackle the taboo, stigma and shame.”

If lack of education feeds stigma, you need to increase education around menstrual health and hygiene. Along with girls, including boys in these topics from a young age is great for creating a society free from period stigma and this will also improve scientific knowledge of how the body works.

Kapinski agreed that teaching about menstrual health among all genders is important. She said, “Ideally, if this was being taught in school, you’d teach it in an inclusive way, so it wouldn’t be about genders, it would be about ‘this is what happens in this body part.”

Making clear, accessible menstrual health education is an important key to tackling period stigma, which is an obstacle to gender equality, improving lives and building knowledge.

A vital chance to improve Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

Schools play a crucial role to address MHM comprehensively. So what about young girls and MHM in Indian schools?

A systematic review on MHM in India stated that an estimated 60% of young girls are enrolled in about 1.4 million schools. Around 24% of school girls didn’t attend their school during periods and only 37% of girls changed their absorbents in school.

Schools can be vehicles for the girl to change but they also serve to continue discrimination and stigma regarding menstruation.

Modules for teachers and peer educators must be developed in school that will provide comprehensive information and essentials on menstruation and MHM.

Safe, hygienic and functional toilets and separate toilets for girls
Water in toilet units for girls to wash their parts and menstrual absorbents
Provisions in toilet unit to hang and store belongings such as shelves and hooks
Proper dustbin for safe disposal of menstrual waste
Private and safe changing room or space
Soaps or liquids to wash hands

Through special programs, we can address detrimental social norms, provide girls education on menstrual health and hygiene, and access to a vast range of safe and hygienic menstrual absorbents and options for treatment of menstrual waste and safe disposal. Reach out to girls who are enrolled but do not attend schools or discontinue their education due to lack of knowledge and transform the menstrual health and hygiene landscape in India for a better tomorrow.

This #MenstrualHygieneDay, #Infano along with #TheLogicalIndian, is addressing nuanced conversations on period centering on the well being of the menstruators as they power through every day. Share your thoughts about inclusive menstrual health education in the comments because your views can trigger an important aspect that we all need to know and talk about! #IBleedMyWay #MHD2022

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Narcissus was a mythological Greek hunter who as the legend goes, saw his reflection in the water and fell hopelessly in love, with himself. A person who is obsessed with himself and has a sense of superiority is called a Narcissist.

What is Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?

“This is a condition in which a person has an exaggerated sense of his/her own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration and troubled relationships with family and at work”, says Dr. Anirudh Kala, a psychiatrist. “There is a striking lack of empathy for others because of which there is an inability to perceive needs and feelings of others.”

Traits of a Narcissist

Shows extreme confidence but has vulnerable self-esteem which to the slightest criticism and often leads to lashing out and vengeful behavior when wishes are not fulfilled. Has a very strong sense of entitlement which needs to be constantly fed with excessive admiration. Spends a lot of time in grooming and keeping the wardrobe updated.
Is preoccupied with fantasies about his/her success, power, brilliance, beauty, or handsomeness.
Believes in self-superiority and associates only with people who are similarly placed because they are the only ones who will understand them.
Feels a need to outshine others in order to exaggerate self-achievements and talents.
Is manipulative, exploitative, and insists on having the best of everything — the best car, the corner office, and the best house out of the company pool, the best corporate jet.
Feels an innate need to be in control of things and situations. They want to be informed of their partner’s whereabouts, will check and keep a tab on their social media and correspondence, will criticize and control the aspects of their physical appearances, and will be the decision-maker on their behalf as if the partner’s say or opinion has nothing to do.
Monopolises conversations to the dismay of your friends and colleagues. They will want to head the conversation often bordering on their accomplishments and superiority and will offer unsolicited opinions.
Blames you when adversity strikes. Projection of blame is more like a self-defense mechanism they employ when they feel psychologically threatened. This can be frustrating and unfair as the partner gets accused of doing things that they aren’t actually doing.
Lacks empathy or the ability to identify with or recognize the experiences and feelings of other people. They want everything to be about them and belong to them. They have zero respect for personal boundaries often mistreating, devaluing, and humiliating others with their speech and actions.

Marital disharmony is common between such partners because the other can feel overpowered by a sense to upkeep the NPD’s reputation and may feel their partner is their ‘energy stealer’. However relationships can work if one is a highly passive person content to be in the shadow. The image of bravado actually masks a strongly risk averse personality.

Persons with NPD are more prone than others to develop depression and paranoid disorders. Identifying such personality streaks, therefore, becomes necessary. If you or someone you know is in a manipulative relationship, it is best to seek help. Asking a Narcissist to undergo therapy is easier said than done. One can instead lookout for support groups. Sometimes it may take some convincing because usually, they begin to think that a manipulative interaction between them and their partner is normal and that’s how generally relationships are. A strong support group can help the victim to break out of this assumption and help them realize the extent of manipulation by their partner.