Periods and the menstrual cycle have always been a rather difficult subject to talk about. It is a day of horror when a young girl receives her first flow and learns about the grueling process set to take place every month until menopause at around the age of 46. Along with the severe pain and uneasiness of the biological process the girl is also subject to social taboos depending upon the environment and society she grows up in. Along with this, recent studies into the long term use of sanitary pads and tampons have revealed that they contain harmful chemicals that cause diseases and even cancers.
Thus, looking at this dire situation, the Muse Foundation started the "Maasika Mahotsav" in India in 2017. It is a week long festival dedicated to eliminating social taboos on periods, spreading awareness on period hygiene and celebrating all females who go through this arduous journey. It ends with a program on 28th May i.e. Menstrual Hygiene Day. DLR Prerna the NGO, organises the Maasika Mahotsav in Darjeeling and celebrate it at Chowrasta.
The Period festival (as it is also called) was celebrated in seven states of India this year along with nine countries across four continents. During the festival numerous workshops and awareness programs are held which teach the people about menstrual hygiene and social taboos. The program believes that the best method to eradicate social taboos is to spread awareness about the little known process of menstruation.
Many view the blood as impure and dirty, capable of causing serious diseases if not disposed properly. Thus many social taboos are created around menstruation such as refusal of entry into the kitchen, eating spaces and religious spaces, restrictions on eating pickles and water foods, sleep separately etc. Some women are even secluded during the menstruation period. However studies show that period blood is as pure as blood from any other part of the body.
The Muse Foundation believes that awareness programs help to bring the conversation into the light but a lot more work needs to be done to make any significant progress in eliminating social taboos.
Another serious problem are the health risks associated with using sanitary pads and tampons. Studies have shown that these pads contain phthalates and VOC's that are very harmful to the body. Phthalates or plasticizers are chemicals used to make plastics more durable and they can be detrimental to human health as they disrupt the endocrine system. VOC's or volatile organic compounds are gases that are emitted to the air from products or processes. They can cause serious issues such as organ failure and cancers.
It is seen that most sanitary pads and tampons use wood pulp instead of cotton and the softening and dying of the wood pulp requires these chemicals. Fragrances and absorbers are also added to improve the pad. However during use, the heat causes VOC's to appear and travel into the vaginal area which causes health problems.
Thus it is encouraged that women follow these do's and don'ts while observing menstrual cycles.
- Avoid using sanitary pads and opt for menstrual cups and cloth pads which are of significant quality these days and easy to clean.
- If you do use pads avoid using fragranced pads and use soft non-fragranced, phthalate-free pads.
- Change pads frequently and let it air between changes, if possible.
Thus we see that what is a integral part of the female existence has been riddled with issues and demands attention. It is already a very difficult experience to go through for women and young girls. The pain and the hormonal imbalances become unbearable at times and it is not an easy experience by any means. Therefore we as a society should work towards making it as easy as possible for our women to go through this process, not make it harder.
Superstitions and social taboos around menstruations need to be eradicated from society and this can only be done with awareness and education of the public at large. A dedicated effort needs to be put in by us as a collective if anything is to be achieved. It is also important that we as men understand the intricacy and details of the process and help those who go through it. The next time we find a woman going through menstruation, let us remember to be a bit more understanding, a bit more helpful and have a bit more respect for what she goes through every month.
Written by Ariyaan Moktan
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