As a mother of two girls, the topic of menstruation used to scare me. Not because, it is something scary or something which is unnatural. Just because, I didn’t know how to prepare myself for all the questions regarding the topic. Finally, when the time came, everything went fine and my elder one also got adapted to it pretty soon.
My elder one has friends from different backgrounds and cultures. She would ask me all kinds of questions after listening to some of her friends about the different beliefs related to menstruation.
We don’t have any taboos attached to it and don’t follow any fixed rules like not going to temples, not entering the kitchen, not touching anything etc. I just explained the hygiene related stuff to her and the science behind it.
It breaks my heart to see and hear about all the myths, stories, taboos attached with it. People still follow all the old rituals and see it as some undercover operation. I don’t want to pinpoint any particular community here but some of the things which I know people still follow are-
- Do not enter the kitchen- Why not?
- Do not touch anything otherwise it will get impure- Really?
- Do not go to the temple or touch anything related to God’s- Recently, Sabarimala temple issue was in news for the same reasons. My question is- Why not?
- Sit in the room alone and don’t come out for 5 days- Who made these rules?
- Don’t take head bath for those 5 days- Is it going to take off all the pain due to the cramps?
I am sure there are many more like this and don’t know when people will understand that it’s a natural thing and not something to be ashamed and embarrassed of.
Few days back, while explaining to my younger one-
Me- Some people don’t go to temple during these 5 days.
A- Why? Goddesses also had it right? They were already in temples as Gods.
Me- Speechless.
Now this was really thought provoking. I have a request to all the moms out there- Stop period shaming! Don’t make it such a big issue that your little girls get uncomfortable talking to even you about it. Tell them that they are beautiful, you are proud of them and it’s a very natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of!
As they say, “Tell your daughters, they are beautiful but also tell them they are strong, smart and capable of anything!”
Linking this post to Write Tribe and #PeriodPride
Also I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter.
September 3, 2016 at 11:39 am
This is a like Points to Ponder over and the questions that kids ask, we’ll hardly have logical answers. Either we need to have a reasoning for all the beliefs or stop the blind beliefs. Well said and thought provoking post for all moms to be.
September 3, 2016 at 11:51 am
Agree with you Anil..hope for a change..but its easier said than done..Thanks for stopping by!
September 3, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Very beautifully told.
I am impressed with two things :
1) Choosing the word “Undercover”
2) With your intelligent daughter, who made you speechless.
🙂
September 3, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Hey thanks a lot Anshul for your kind words and stopping by !
September 3, 2016 at 7:33 pm
It’s disheartening to see that many still follow such beliefs and yet call themselves educated. Totally agree with Anshul about using the word undercover.
September 3, 2016 at 11:57 pm
Thanks a lot Atul fo reading 🙂
September 4, 2016 at 1:23 am
That’s a nice way to put it. Actually we need to teach our son’s too that these are normal so that they dont grow up and create some more RULES for women, which is how our society is actually.
September 4, 2016 at 9:48 am
Agree with you Tina..Rules needs to be changed and our sons also should know about it all..Thanks for reading 🙂
September 5, 2016 at 9:23 pm
Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to girls. However, it has always been surrounded by taboos and myths that exclude women from many aspects of socio-cultural life. In India, the topic has been a taboo until date. Such taboos about menstruation present in many societies impact on girls’ and women’s emotional state, mentality and lifestyle and most importantly, health. The challenge, of addressing the socio-cultural taboos and beliefs in menstruation, is further compounded by the low girls’ knowledge levels and understandings of puberty, menstruation, and reproductive health. Thus, there is the need to follow a strategic approach in combating these issues.
September 5, 2016 at 10:24 pm
Completely agree with you ..Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts 🙂
September 6, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Very valid points covered in this blog on #periodpride . I wrote about some of this stuff in a related post on this topic. Loved your writing style. Keep blogging Cheers
September 6, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Hey thanks a lot for your kind words and stopping by ..will surely read your post on #periodpride 🙂
September 7, 2016 at 11:51 am
Really a thought provoking post !!! Loved it !!!
September 7, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Thanks Vasantha for stopping by and glad that you liked it 🙂
September 8, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Impressed by your daughter’s powerful question! Love the title of your post, most of us do make it seem like an undercover operation. We need to educate our children about menstruation – they’re anyway smarter than us.
September 8, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Agree..we need to do it more open..Thanks a lot Venice for reading 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 8:21 am
Truly it’s time to speak out and I’m so glad you chose to, Deepa. Thank you.
September 9, 2016 at 9:14 am
Hey thanks a lot Corinne for stopping by ..glad I wrote about it..I had to write about this topic 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Agree with all the points you made in this post. We seriously need to stop the shame attached to periods, and the myths need to go. Great post 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Thanks a lot Aditi 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 8:09 pm
Yes, I agree. We need to let all the myths go. I would like to share that my family did this years back. My mom follows all the rituals and do regular activities. We, all together, can bring these changes. Sometimes, children left us speechless with their logical questions.
September 9, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Thanks a lot abhinav for reading and sharing your thoughts 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 9:48 pm
A gave the right answer and how. Glad there are parents like you who explain their children and being the change in our society with stupid rules, Deepa.
https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2016/09/01/period-pride-stop-ignorance-and-be-the-change-as-a-society/
September 9, 2016 at 11:12 pm
Thanks a lot Vishal for stopping by 🙂
October 14, 2016 at 2:35 am
It’s important for us to understand our anatomy, respect our bodies and not carry this unnecessary burden of some useless rituals. #PeriodPride needs to be discussed out in the open now.
October 14, 2016 at 11:05 am
Agree..thanks for stopping by Diya 🙂