We need to talk about Menstruation | Acceptance of Menstruation in Society

Many in the society think that this is not a public issue that must be payed attention and discussed about. But this is what leads to the increase in the density of the problem. Every Indian woman menstruates and not only Indian but every girl.

Hence, there is a need to address this problem and when it comes to me “one change that I want to implement for uplifting the society” is the problem of Menstruation.Women during the olden days were treated as untouchables during their menstruation and agonized them. First and foremost, women already bear the pains and uneasiness during their menstrual period and top of that they are least taken care and treated hastily.Menstruation is a just a part of a women’s life which is very essential. But people still perceive it in a hasty way. Society’s perspective must change about the menstruation period of a woman and rather support them. Moreover, people in urban areas have bought a drastic change in this and must be acknowledged well.

But how far did we correct ourselves? Where women still hesitate to bring sanitary napkins publicly and prefer to bring them clandestinely. Maybe this is not happening in metropolitan cities but a survey has shown that nearly half of the girls in India (44 % do not know what is happening to them the very first time they have their period. A majority of women felt abashed (60 %) or embarrassed (58 %), and half were unassertive to tell anyone else they had started their period. These studies depict how developmental we are. This is a 21^st century and people still abuse women for their periods. This is a furious issue. It also doesn’t mean that every boy must be told and discussed about the periods of a girl. But every mother or a family member must take an initiative to educate their young, matured enough brothers about their periods. This also makes the bond stronger between you and your brother, father anyone.

MENSTRATION– A BOON OR A CURSE TO A GIRL

Menstruation and the related practices are still facing vivid social and cultural and restrictions which are becoming asa barrier in the path of menstrual disinfection and health management. This way a girl is unsafe. This is preventing them from expressing their problems faced during their periods leading to various types of cancers too.

Arunachalam- the menstrual man of India. We should respect and admire him for his audacity to produce low cost sanitary napkins for women. He had been honored with Padmasri for his endeavor to bring changes in the menstruation conditions and myths.

In most of the parts of the country particularly in Rural areas girls are not prepared and aware about menstruation and the hygiene management as a result, face many difficulties and challenges at home, schools, and work places. It was scientifically proved that little and inaccurate knowledge about menstruation has become a great hindrance in the path of the menstrual hygiene management causing severe health issues like cancer, infection etc.  In many of the rural areas, women do not have access to sanitary napkins or they know very little about the types and method of using them or are unable to afford such products as they are high priced. So, they mostly depend on reusable cloth pads which they wash and reuse. Necessities and requirements of the adolescent girls and women are ignored in rural areas chiefly despite the fact that there is a major progress in the area of water and sanitation. Women manage menstruation contrastingly at home and outside; at homes, they dispose menstrual products in domestic wastes and flush them in the toilets in the public toilets when they are outside without thinking about the consequences of choking.

DISPOSAL OF MENSTRUAL WASTES:

Disposal of menstrual waste is of major concern as it affects health and environment. Hence, there is an exigency for effectual menstrual stuff which needs less and cost-effective management.

All the below must be initiated by the government for a better and great change.

• Companies dealing with manufacturing of sanitary pads or other articles should disclose the information on the sanitary napkinswith respect to the chemical composition of the pads so that appropriate technologies could be used for their disposal,treatment and management.
• Environment-friendly chemicals must be used by manufacturers of sanitary products to avoid soil and water pollution and to accelerate the decomposition process.
• Guidance regarding menstrual management to adolescent girls and women is a vital step.
• Menstrual hygiene management should be an integral part of education curriculum. Toilets must be placed at every 1 kilometer of highways and in isolated areas.
• Government must distribute eco-friendly sanitary napkins in rural and remote areas and educate them properly about these.

Myths should be busted. No girl should die due to menstruation.

CONCLUSION

So, there is necessity to educate and make them aware about the environmental pollution and health hazards associated with the disposal and production of sanitary napkins and other products. Implementation of modern techniques like incineration can help to reduce the waste. Also, cognizance ought to be spread to emphasize the use of reusable sanitary products like natural sanitary products procured from materials like banana fibre, bamboo fibre, sea sponges, water hyacinth etc. Moreover, sanitary napkins are asserted as harmful to body because they prevent skin from breathing, may cause infections if used continuously the same pad or rashes leading to infertility in the future. In this modern contemporary world, women in urban areas have many alternatives other than sanitary napkins. There are tampons, menstrual cups, reusable tampons etc. Teachers and mothers should be educated and trained to impart knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management among students. Social media and mass communication also plays an major role to make the girls and women aware about the latest menstrual products, different manufacturers, create impact on people   so forth.

Also, ignorance, misconceptions, unsafe practices, and illiteracy of the mother and child regarding menstruation are the root causes of many complications. So, let us raise the wall against the myths and contradict the fact that bleeding is bad.

HAPPY TO BLEED!

Author : Vaishnavi ,16 years old student from BODUPPAL, HYDERABAD