In India, menstrual issues abound in village and hilly regions, where people have little or no access to medical assistance. However, menstruation itself is a taboo in many parts of our country too. People hesitate to discuss it openly, even if it’s a natural biological cycle which every woman on the world faces.
In some Hindu families, girls are not allowed to enter the kitchen, or sleep on the same mattress as their husbands or other family members. In certain places, they are even forced to live in huts outside. These aren’t problems which a movie can change overnight.
For this to change, schools need to be more open about the importance of menstruation. More awareness sessions and workshops need to be conducted from the school level onwards. The sensitisation programmes should include both girls and boys.
During ancient times, there were fewer facilities and means to aid women during their periods, which probably led to the create restrictions for their protection. Now things have changed, and with the technological advancements, we also have better facilities and aids. But, many people still blindly follow these practices without thinking logically.
I believe that there is no point in opposing what some people blindly call as an ‘age-old practice’. Therefore, I consciously stay away from validating such cultural practices scientifically.
The taboo related to menstruation is more related to the lack of awareness and education. Nowadays, since awareness and sensitisation programmes are being held, such things seem to be fading slowly, allowing women to live freely. But we still have a long way to go.
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Featured image used for representative purposes only.