The Untouchable Boon- Menstruation

Menstruation is the part of the reproductive cycle; it is as natural as any secretion that your body discharges. It is a daily reality for millions of women and girls around the globe. A natural biological process, which should dignify women and girls, has become a subject of shame surrounded by taboos and myths that exclude women from many aspects of socio-cultural life. Despite the advancement in societal understanding, identifying menstruation as ‘impure’ is still deeply embedded in religion, cultural belongings, and societal practices. 

Nepalese society is also prey to the regressive mindset and social practice regarding menstruation. The taboo of vaginal discharge has put women in the back standing of society all through ages. From religious texts like swastani khata, to story of rishi panchami all exemplify how menstruation is a sin and how women are victims of this natural process. The story of rishi panchami follows a woman named Sushila who entered the kitchen while menstruating during her past life, this was her biggest sin, and due to which she was reborn as a dog to be treated like one. The heartrending part is, we as Hindus glorify these myths and perform a yearly ritual in rishi panchami just to wash our sin of menstruating. When I hear these myths I wonder, if goddesses Parvati, Laxmi, Saraswoti, Kali, Durga ever menstruated? If they did, how come they are prayed throughout the year, even during that time of the month? Do we have answers? NO!

Nepalese societies in past centuries have exaggerated the myth surrounding menstruating and have twisted their own product of what menstruation shall actually be. Followed by a lot of don’ts: don’t sit there, don’t touch that, don’t enter the kitchen, don’t touch water source, don’t sleep in the bed, don’t were the same cloths, don’t stay in the home and whole bunch of don’t follows. Such taboos about menstruation present in many societies impact girls’ and women's emotional state, mentality and lifestyle, and most importantly, health. A lot of these superstitions are behavioral restrictions that, aside from being untrue, contribute to gender-based discrimination. Every adolescent girl has to miss their school and every woman has to sacrifice social functions, festivals, and their day to day lifestyle only because they are born to be the carrier of life. These “don’t” have taken the lives of many women, in the form of ‘Chau’ or ‘Unhealthy menstruating practices’. Yet, we claim that women are treated as equal in our society. How Unfortunate!

The mentality of impure and untouchable has transcended from rural villages to posh educated families of suburban and urban cities of Nepal. It’s an embarrassment to inform that highly educated families like mine are still practicing this taboo inflicted by our regressive society. Despite being a woman of modern thoughts and ideologies, I am chained by these ‘don’ts’ just because I am too vulnerable to hurt the religious sentiments of my parents and the regressive society which means everything to them.  

Despite the governmental effort on criminalizing any kind of discriminatory behavior during menstruation, and demolishing menstrual huts (chau) in Achham, Surkhet, Dailekh, Bajhang, Salyan, the practice is still loud and proud present in every house-hold of the country. The poignant part is that everyone is getting so used to this practice that they don’t see it as discrimination. Society is evolving, people are adapting all sorts of technologies & innovation, they are challenging their way of life yet their mindset is static and changing it has been a slow burn."Everyone wants change, but no one wants to change". The challenge, of addressing the socio-cultural taboos and beliefs in menstruation, is further abetted by the lack of knowledge and understandings of puberty, menstruation, and reproductive health. Thus, there is a need to follow a strategic approach to combat these issues. 

The solution to all this hara-kiri is simple and can be covered by one word “MINDSET”. Unless we change our mindset and grow out of the religious stigma, this practice is going nowhere. Rather than taking as a shame, it’s time that we celebrate it as a greatest gift of human life. We all were born because there was someone menstruating; it’s a celebration of life, celebration of womanhood, and celebration of women power. It rather than being whispered in ears and wrapped in newspapers, it shall be a normal day act. Just think about it, men secrete sperm every single day, we do not consider them untouchable, women do the same thing once a month and all the fuss is about that.  To change the mindset and outlook at this boon (currently disguised as Sin), there is still a long way to go and the journey starts from you.

Bloggers:

Puspa Khanal

Anupa Aryal