A video shot by ScoopWhoop Unscripted, where the anchor Samdish Bhatia asks Delhi University male students about menstruation is a casual interview and extremely relatable to watch. But it also reveals that only one student got to know about periods from his home while the others were informed in school. However, the sad part is that our educational or school books do not try to give as much emphasis on this topic that is still considered a taboo.
School textbooks are the impressions of the educational program in schools and are a portrayal of social convictions and political fights. Moreover, when an individual has curiosity over any topic, the preferred sources are always books or the internet.
An age where several changes take place in the body and minds of adolescents, having a pool of questions is justified. Such questions as to why there’s a sudden increase in height or change in voice, appearance etc. make every individual question a lot of things.
Reaching ‘The Age Of Adolescence (Chapter 10)‘ page number 118 of the NCERT textbook, it has a small paragraph under the heading ‘Reproductive Phase Of Life In Humans’ that mentions only ‘females’ to be menstruators. It doesn’t talk about the basics of periods that everyone should be aware of such as:
- A thick mucus discharge coming out of the vagina could be one of the indications that periods can start in the next 6 months.
- The information on from where the blood comes out from the body as sometimes menstruators misunderstood it with the urethra.
- The problems menstruators face during periods that are the most common ones such as menstrual cramps, back pain, pimples on the face, acute headache and so on.
Image source: http://irjrr.com/irjrr/September2017/4.pdf
Information given on menstrual cycles in textbooks are always inclined towards one single impression, making it an objective topic and that is not true. All menstrual cycles aren’t the same. The menstrual cycle occurs around 28 days but can vary from 21 to 35 days.
During these days, many hormonal changes occur like bleeding usually lasts around 2 to 7 days, during 8-11 days the lining of the uterus thickens in preparation for the eggs, ovulation occurs within 12-15 days. If fertilisation does not take place, the lining of the uterus dissolves, which occurs in 16th to 25th days and the uterine lining detaches during 26th to 28th days leading to menstruation.
But the whole cyclic process of menstruation is not given in any of the textbooks of four boards i.e, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and NCERT. Teaching puberty in schools can help learners better understand themselves and deal with the changes they go through. However, our education system in general and our textbooks to be specific are shying away from the responsibility of educating young fellows about a very important topic.
The diagrams made in relevance with the content help a lot in understanding the concepts. Although there’s a huge difference when choosing pictures such that a penis is shown on the page but the diagram of the vagina is not. The use of these diagrams can help a lot in understanding and open up the minds for actually accepting these differences.
There are usually a lot of activities mentioned in the books for the students to do but not a single one on how the myths and taboos can be uprooted and thrown away from society. Hence, books should focus on making these important changes for removing the stigma attached to periods.
There can be activities related to how Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) can be improved, students can participate in organising more seminars, and workshops in areas that do not have access to proper menstrual hygiene and most important being teachers and educators themselves realizing the responsibility of giving equal time and efforts to teach, discuss and debate about breaking stereotypical mindset.
The way everything is intertwined in this environment should make everyone think of the actions and the words they speak as to how it can impact a large audience. Education and society are the worst enemies of each other because with knowledge, awareness and development of moral and social perspective the myths and taboos society breathes can be destroyed. Education empowers people to think and question what is right and wrong. But our books are still lacking the correct way of addressing sensitive issues such as periods.