The debate about women getting period-leaves have been going on for years and by now if we have paid a little attention in the biology classes in school or have the privilege to talk about it to someone (yes, I know I said privilege because that’s what it seems like!) or maybe googled it, then we are aware of the concept of the period and what are the painful symptoms and effects of it on the human body. Woke and wise human beings know that it’s a boon, but sadly, people getting it every month doesn’t always feel great joy during these godsent days of happiness.
I’m not going to explain yet again that for some of us it is painful, therefore, taking leaves for it is natural etc. because it has been said repeatedly and people who even after knowing everything are ignorant will stay ignorant because it’s their choice. They have decided to remain insensitive and unenlightened. So, here I’m going to talk about another time-worn issue that is equity.
“Feminists have been screaming to be treated as an equal for so long and now that the situation is changing why do you want to take a step back!”
Okay, first, I don’t think taking a step back was the intention. The intention was to have the provision to provide the workplace with better productivity and provide the body with something that it needs—REST. Secondly, feminists have always been asking to be treated equally, in terms of respect, payment and fair opportunity. Now, I’ll not make people laugh by talking about equal respect and payment that women are already getting at workplaces. We all know how that is going to end! I’ll talk about a fair opportunity. There is a term that has not been paid much attention while considering equality, the term is equity. This term is very important in case of making a social change like this. The concept of equity implies that fairness should be provided to everybody while acknowledging the differences depending on individual needs.
Now, ignorant people are going to counter by saying not everybody goes through the same level of problems. Correct! My first gynaecologist (an old and experienced doctor) gave my mother this wise advice when I first visited him with the problem of spasmodic dysmenorrhea, “Areh! young girls these days, you know, they are always trying to seek attention. I’m sure it’s not that bad. She is young and doesn’t know anything. You’ll know better, make her understand. ” then the next advice was to me, “It’s nothing that is going to kill you. Deal with it. It’ll eventually fade away!”. Trust me, this happened. Luckily, God was there to help me out. He called this guy back and I got the opportunity to for a better doctor. But, this former doctor of mine would be very proud of this superpower of ignorance that he left behind in many others.
Hence, the point is everybody won’t go through the same level of pain or discomfort and not everybody would want to take rest during their periods. That is perfectly understandable. However, if an employee is trying to focus on feeling better and get back to work with full productivity then how is that taking a step back that I don’t understand. An employee irrespective of the sex and gender needs to be provided with leaves and facilities that would encourage work productivity and eventually help the organisation to achieve goals and success. Period leave is not going to be a setback for women only if the differences are acknowledged and not stigmatised. Rather I feel the silent suffering of women and trying to restructure their natural lives by popping pills is what barring their progress. This process of restructuring the workplace rules and regulations will definitely be better for not just the women but the organisations hiring them as well. Having health concerns taken under consideration by the employer falls under the category of the basic right of people, having periods related troubles are just another part of it. Trying to suppress their biological built and issues to prove their strength to men to get fair treatment at the workplace is simply stupid! Isn’t not catering to misogynistic standards and interests the whole point behind women movements?
There is a difference between being sick and having periods!
They say a menstrual cycle is a private thing. Agreed and accepted but so is multiple other things. It has nothing to do with taking a leave. Periods are not being sick but it is a matter of biological structure. The problem is many women feel unwell while being on their periods. Besides that, there is a common feeling of discomfort because you are literally bleeding continuously for 3-5 days every month along with hormonal fluctuations. Therefore, the need for separate period leaves even when there is a provision of sick leaves. Because falling sick is a matter of sudden occurrence like getting a surgery done or isolation for certain contagious infections etc. and sick leaves are provided for that purpose. But the menstrual cycle is a consistent thing that is going to come back every month for most of the women unless you are pregnant (in that case you can apply for well-deserved 6-months maternity leave!).
It is understandable that not everybody feels the same but not being empathetic of someone having a problem is the issue. It is not expected to be a mandatory leave for women employees. Therefore, no question of taking a step back. Ultimately, it is a matter of having the provision and the choice of taking a break during the menstrual cycle. While employees and employers are working towards building a transparent and trustworthy professional space then a period-leave should also be considered as a part of it. As this is a private thing no one has to throw a party for having an extremely painful cycle or ask for permission from each co-worker. But there is no need to stigmatise and fabricate the truth of a normal menstrual cycle as a headache or viral fever as well. If you need leave for your periods ask for a period-leave, it’s that simple. Ultimately, it is the matter of accepting the fact that getting your periods is a reason that is serious enough for you to take leave.
Is it a step backwards?
I understand some women considering it as a step backwards. It is the failure of the society that has failed to be considerate to them. These women had to struggle in the extremely biased and chauvinist world to hold ground. They had to ignore basic biological structures of women just to be almost equally treated and get almost equal opportunities as men. I would like to believe women are not being inconsiderate to each other, probably they are anxious that acknowledging differences would be considered the weakness of women. Women would again be considered as the fragile, naive, damsel in distress.
In that case, if we are staying strong and supporting each other, the societal norms will eventually change. We know periods are natural and it is nothing to be disgusted about or feel ashamed of.
This time let’s make sure we are not stigmatising it by making it a reason that can affect the professional life of a woman. A worker is going through a biological process every month, for which that person has to spend on tampons, sanitary napkins, medicines and multiple other products. And, here people are talking about deducting their salary because they have taken leave for the impact of that biological process on health. I don’t see any logic behind this. The way every other health issue is treated with care and importance and it does not become a reason for a person losing their importance at jobs or losing a part of their well-deserved salary, it is time that menstrual cycles are given equal importance the same way as well.
Women suffering during their menstrual cycles should be provided with an option to take the period-leave. But in the end, it completely depends on that individual. Let’s not make the ability to deal with pain another idea to generalise and judge women. If we think about a debilitating incident to be the reason for the salary deduction that is purely inhuman. It is not a sign of a progressive society. Let’s give equity the importance that it needs, let people on period be the decision-maker of their own choice based on their individual experience and situation. Paid period leave is not a privilege, it is a necessity. From a person working in an MNC to the domestic help, everyone has the write to get the option of taking the period-leave without their importance of work getting affected. Period-leave is about a choice that entirely depends on the decision of an individual experiencing periods. Period!