One of the primary justifications for untouchability around periods is that the cycle is dismissed as unhygienic and imbalanced. Due to inequality between menstruators and non-menstruators, the voice of menstruators is disregarded within families and other networks.
Because of certain social standards and marks of disgrace, bleeding menstruators are not permitted to use or touch water and washrooms every now and then. They are even rejected from domestic spaces for being polluted during their cycle. Accordingly, awareness programmes must be organised to bring together menstruators as well as non-menstruators around menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
Non-menstruators can support and impact young and old menstruators within families, in schools, at work or in neighbourhoods instead of overlooking the menstrual cycle. They can do this through their role as spouses, partners, parents, siblings, understudies, educators, pioneers and policymakers.
By exploring writing, it can be observed that at the family level, men don’t uphold menstruating women in regards to their menstrual cycle or hygiene and have never talked about menstrual issues or experiences with their spouses or kids. As breadwinners and heads of their families, they do not understand or spend money on purchasing menstrual products such as cushions, tampons and menstrual cups as they think of them as a waste of money.
So, women have to depend on modest reusable fabric cushions that they wash, dry and use again. In different cases, because of low family income, men wonder whether or not to spend on exorbitant items. In this case, even women end up thinking twice before spending on menstrual necessities and personal hygiene.
Likewise, decisions related to building latrines in homes are taken mostly by non-menstruating males, so it becomes another major hindrance to menstrual hygiene as menstruators think it is troublesome in cleaning and change sanitary pads or other menstrual products in security. Old or young menstruators who have latrines at home feel humiliated as the drainage channels that go out aren’t covered and the red can be seen by others as the menstrual blood streams through it.
In certain reports, it was observed that guardians don’t permit young men or non-menstruators to examine these issues as they are not considered significant for their future. Hence, they end up learning or getting data about periods from their peers or the internet. This information can often be off-base or inadequate.
In certain areas, such as Nepal, bleeding women are required to reside independently during their periods in a chhaupadi outside their homes. This social standard is upheld by many people, causing obstacles to bleeding women, especially during winters. Other difficulties that must be addressed in this case are snake bites, fire dangers, assaults, etc.
Hence, non-menstruators can easily support menstruators while dealing with menstruation in households, communities, schools and workplaces as these influence menstruators’ experience. Non-menstruators can also take up menstrual health management through their role as a parent, spouse, sibling, peer, teacher, community leader, colleague or policymaker.
Additionally, young non-menstruators can post empowering videos or posters on platforms such as #HaqSOnline. This will help spread awareness among male family members. They can also go through various platforms such as @sacchisaheli, which is the ultimate endeavour to cut off the norms and restrictions faced by menstruators.