Why menstruation is taboo and why it shouldn't be.

 

Photo by Vulvani - www.vulvani.com

In 2021 menstruation is still a taboo subject that is not as openly discussed as it should be. In the pandemic we are currently going through, it is especially important to address the shame and stigma associated with menstruation before public life resumes. 

 

Why menstruation is taboo…

 

The taboo of menstruation has developed over generations of cultural stigmas, which unfortunately still perpetuate today. A common widespread belief in many parts of the world is that menstruating women are impure or dirty. In India a surprisingly common belief is that women shouldn’t enter the kitchen as they will contaminate food. In Nepal, although illegal, women are often isolated from the household and made to live in a hut in a practice known as Chhaupadi for the same reason that they are considered impure. This raises concerns for women’s well-being as they can often be subjugated to unsafe living conditions where such practices are still prevalent.

 

Such taboos are harmful and have a discriminatory effect as they only apply to those who menstruate. They make women feel shameful of their period and internalise the belief that they are impure, which is then passed on to their daughters, creating another generation of girls who feel ashamed about their period.

 

Stigma of menstruation is not only a problem in third world or impoverished countries, but also in countries such as the UK. Openly talking about menstruation is a rare occurrence with it usually being referred to by euphemisms such as ‘aunt flo’, or ‘time of the month’. Our reluctance to refer to periods by their name is problematic because this reinforces the idea that periods are not at all conversation-worthy and in fact are embarrassing to talk about. This is illustrated by the fact that not many of us feel we can openly state that we are menstruating. More common are the hushed whispers to a few people and hiding our sanitary products on our way to the bathroom. Sanitary product commercials use a blue liquid to demonstrate their product, which further subconsciously affirms the notion that period blood is something to be ashamed of, whereas bloodshed in films has connotations of patriotism.

 

…and why it shouldn’t be.

 

This needs to change. Menstruation is a biological process experienced by half the population at some point, so it only seems illogical to fear open discussion of it. Women’s issues cannot be resolved if we don’t feel we can talk about them! Period stigma needs to be tackled in an effective way because if it isn’t, it will continue to hold back girls and women. It has a devastating impact on the education of young girls who are likely to miss school to avoid being mocked. The myths and misinformation that feed this stigma need to be debunked but one of the root problems is lack of education and it will take some serious heavy work to reach the point where most women have shame-free periods. 

 

A useful strategy to achieve this end goal is through education and advocacy, which is already being undertaken by many organisations such as Period.org and Binti Period. One thing we can do is support such organisations who advocate for the rejection of menstrual stigma and put pressure on policy makers to implement better reproductive and menstrual health education. One thing is key – this needs to reach everyone! At Freeflow we are committed to providing education on menstrual health to girls in India who otherwise would not be able to access this information. 

 

Let’s end the menstruation taboo by raising our voices to say periods are not shameful. Periods are bloody amazing!