Menstrual Cycle - A Feminist Lifespan Perspective !!

Do not touch pickle, Do not exercise, Do not wear white clothes etc . These are some of the statements that Indian women have heard every month when they experience the Menstrual cycle. Menstrual taboos shape many religious and social practices across the globe. Certain religious traditions consider this cycle impure and thus, the menstruating women are banned from religious rites, food preparation etc. Many religious traditions consider menstruation defile and ritually unclean.

We boldly say that we live in the 21^st century and have revolved with the time. But I don’t feel so that our thinking has revolved with the time. People still consider it a shame and insensible to discuss in public about the gender issues, social taboos and the problems and changes that women face in day to day lives.

The menstrual cycle is one of the most important biological differences between females and males. This cycle enables that a girl is all set for fertilisation and to give birth to an offspring. To get a new born baby into this world, a woman has to undergo so many changes and equally face a lot of problems. But to discuss about these problems it is considered defile. People should understand that this cycle is a part of women’s daily life. All over the world girls and young women experience the menstrual cycle. It is a natural process just as ocean flowing. But in many countries the subject is enshrouded with shame and harsh impractilities.

Girls are still considered a burden even after so much of public awareness programmes. ‘Female Foeticide’ is still practiced in many areas of the world though it is illegal. They kill girls as people still believe that girls are not capable like the boys. But my question is who are we to decide who is capable and who is not? And because of this the numbers of girls are decreasing.

 We must leave things for nature to decide. Chance combination of X and Y sperms with ova when left to nature automatically results in balancing the population of two sexes. Then, we must respect WOMAN, since only they help in bringing up of babies, and not the man.

People, especially some women have voluntarily begun to spread awareness about the importance about the menstrual cycle and are trying to break the social taboo. But such women are countable. Its effect hasn’t still spread. There are still thousands who aren’t aware about this biological process. Its time that we youngsters raise our voice against this taboo in full action and take up all steps to break the myths against the girls and their problems.