We are all socialized to treat menstruation as a silent issue. Calling it “this day of the month”, “being sick” or “feeling down” creates a limit and a feeling of ignorance that often regresses into stigmatization and taboos.
I come from a girls’ school where we were free to address these issues and felt no pressure to be aware of our surroundings. Entering a coeducational college somehow questioned my confidence to address such issues and made me feel a little hesitant. However, as a student member of the Corporate Social Responsibility Club at Amity Law School, Delhi, played an important role in bringing about change in and around me.
Fundraising campaign to raise awareness – Sahodaya Initiative
What began in March 2018 as a fundraising campaign for menstrual products paved the way for an awareness campaign. “During the discussions in society, members unanimously decided that the initiative should not be limited to fundraising in order to have a significant impact,” said Ridhi, a fifth year law student and member of the club.
It was decided that in addition to raising money, the initiative must also be aware of stereotypes related to menstruation. To this end, the campaign was divided into three days, before which members had to invite, encourage, and ensure maximum participation among students, college staff and faculty members. Not only did we want to touch the surface of the subject, we also wanted to question our belief system.
Image was provided by the author.
During this time, we shared the importance of the campaign in class and encouraged students and staff to participate. We discussed how expensive menstrual products are and not every menstruator can afford them.
On the first day, a call-out was announced in our department to draw attention to the trip. We have set up a photo box and a donation box. Several posters with hashtags and quotes were put up so people could get involved and donate money and sanitary towels to the cause.
Also, because we focused on removing stigma and breaking hesitation, even non-menstruating students and teachers were encouraged to purchase sanitary napkins in our stores for donations.
On the second day, volunteers dressed in white and red led a march across the university campus. We questioned the representation of menstrual blood in advertisements and shouted our slogans “Neela nahi, neela nahi, mera khoon laal hai” and “I’m not down”.
On a personal level, I also started saying, “I’m on my period” instead of calling it “down”.
A small sketch / act was also presented where each person had a stereotypical poster pinned to their clothes and wrapped around another person who was tied to everyone else with ropes. Ritika Prasad, another member, said, “The idea was to depict how a woman is involuntarily tied to such unfounded arguments about something natural.”
A question-and-answer session was also conducted on both days to determine the level of menstrual awareness in the people. Students were asked questions about myths, scientific awareness, and certain practices observed during the periods.
A mixed experience
Social media campaigns and the release of films like Padman accelerated our efforts. Since it was never intended to be an all-girls campaign, the response to participation was overwhelming. Photo booths helped us raise awareness; Several male students and professors bought sanitary towels and shared their experiences.
Sketch. Image was provided by the author.
Another member, Harpal, said of his experience buying sanitary towels: “It was enlightening. Through the campaign, I discovered that our orthodox menstruation has not changed from menstruation. When I went to buy the napkin, the pharmacist’s curious eyes could tell that it was not something that men normally buy. He further wrapped it in a black polyethylene bag, which indicated that the product should be hidden. It’s a taboo. ‘
When it came to the question and answer session, we felt that people were taking the time to answer the questions, although there was still ignorance about the general awareness of menstruation. Ridhi said: “I was moved by how openly everyone discussed and shared their experiences. Conversations that were otherwise restricted to a few people were conducted openly. In particular, I remember a man saying he had an older sister and when she first got her period, her mother explained to both of them what is normally not expected in an Indian household. ‘
The session also helped us shatter myths and reach out to people one by one. Another member, Rishu Bhardwaj, shared his experience: “The idea of representing them on our platform gave us the opportunity to spread the right information about menstruation. I also learned a lot of new facts on the subject that were convincing to me. ‘
No more silence. Can we ignite a conversation?
In most families, brothers or fathers are often unaware that their sisters or daughters are menstruating and often stay away from them during their periods. We cannot ignore the fact that menstruation is only assigned to a specific gender. Everyone, whether they are menstruating or not, needs to be aware of the why, how, and what of menstruation. That’s what awareness-raising means – where no girl has to whisper to get menstrual products on campus; where no non-menstruator is clueless about the natural process and its needs.
“I believe that awareness starts at home, taboos start at households and a lot can be changed if mothers or daughters teach and raise their sons and brothers and also involve them in the process of stigmatization. Often times, mothers do not ask their sons to buy menstrual products for fear of judgment. I’ve learned that sometimes a cramp can be as painful as a heart attack. It takes a more personable and open approach and no time to judge, ”said Harpal.
Image was provided by the author.
Often this exclusion leads to ignorance, silence or an unsuspecting reaction from them. Many students shared their experience that periods were a giggling topic and that students at school often teased them because they wore napkins.
Nimisha, a dedicated graduate member of our club, recalls her experience: “The participation of male members with equal energy and sensitivity was unique and encouraging.” She also shared her school experience where all class observers were boys and the whole class laughed when a sanitary napkin was removed from her pocket. “I was embarrassed at the time. Now that I think about it, I feel like I should have given a lecture to the whole class on the consequences of this attitude. It’s a really small thing, but I’m still frustrated. Especially because Teacher didn’t feel the need to talk to them about it. ‘
The fight is not over yet
The money raised was used to purchase menstrual products and donated to an NGO affiliated with the college’s CSR club, followed by a youth awareness session.
Several other menstrual awareness sessions continued to be held in college, including alternatives to sanitary napkins. However, as Ritika put it, “I had this incomplete feeling when I thought we had donated just a few sanitary towels to a few women. What happens when they’re done? Would you use cloth rags again? Would they care about hygiene if they didn’t even have proper washrooms? It didn’t seem like a permanent solution, but I was just pleased by saying it was a start and hoping they would at least think about the stereotypical aspect. ‘
Less than 20% of menstruators have access to sanitary napkins, which is further skewed into urban and rural numbers. The lockdown has reduced this accessibility to only 15% of the menstruating population. 23 million girls drop out of school because of menstruation. This is because of the stigma of dealing with blemishes or uncleanliness during your period and lack of access to menstrual products and hygiene.
There is still a long way to go, and awareness and inclusion can help fight the myths and taboos.
GRATITUDE CORNER: I would like to thank every member and participant for making the campaign and this report possible. Many Thanks.