Dr Kanika Gupta
“Let’s break the silence”
Menstruation remains a sensitive topic, often surrounded by societal taboos and discomfort. It is considered messy and is generally avoided in polite conversations, even among women. Due to its ‘taboo’ status, young girls and women are frequently exposed to incorrect information. Across the country, females of various ages, educational backgrounds, living in rural or urban areas, and spanning different economic statuses, often experience embarrassment when discussing menstruation. Here are some prevalent menstruation myths that all women should be aware of. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, knowledge is empowering, and it’s essential to disregard these misconceptions about menstruation. These seven myths continue to impede the progress of girls and women. The time has come for us to eradicate these myths once and for all.
Dispelling Menstruation Myths
MYTH 1: Girls are impure during their periods and should avoid cooking or visiting sacred places.
FACT: Menstruation is a natural part of growing up, and there is no impurity associated with it.
MYTH 2: Sanitary products should be discreetly covered when purchasing.
FACT: Buying sanitary products is akin to buying any personal hygiene item, like soap or toothpaste.
MYTH 3: Girls on their periods should not touch or approach plants, as it will harm them.
FACT: Plants thrive on care, irrespective of who tends to them.
MYTH 4: Certain foods like curd, tamarind, and pickles disrupt menstrual flow.
FACT: Food choices do not influence the menstrual flow.
MYTH 5: Girls should sleep separately during their periods.
FACT: Menstruation is not contagious and poses no harm to others in the same room.
MYTH 6: Physical activity can disrupt menstrual flow.
FACT: Exercise and sports can actually help alleviate menstrual pain.
MYTH 7: Discussing periods in public leads to public shaming.
FACT: Just as you freely talk about your hair, makeup, or nail polish, discussing periods should be no different.”
Strategies for Combating
Menstruation-Related Myths
Given the continued taboo surrounding menstruation, it is crucial to develop a thoughtful strategy to normalize discussions about this natural process. Here are several approaches to combat the prevailing myths about menstruation:
Raise Awareness: The fundamental strategy is to disseminate knowledge among adolescent girls and women. Often, mothers avoid discussing this topic with their daughters, and even adult women may lack accurate information.
Empowerment: Empowering girls and women is highly effective. Emphasizing the importance of education can enable them to make decisions that impact society positively.
Sanitation Facilities: Ensuring access to sanitary napkins and other sanitation facilities is imperative.
Accessible Sanitary Products: Making affordable sanitary napkins readily available in rural and slum areas is crucial, given the limited resources in these regions.
Engaging Male Partners: Highlighting the role of male partners in challenging these deeply ingrained myths is equally important. Educating boys about menstruation is a critical step in this regard.
(The author is a Ph.D. in Human Development from University of Jammu)
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