This expression is a part of ‘A Menstruator’s Canvas‘ art campaign which was done for the month of May 2020 in celebration of the ‘Menstrual Hygiene Month‘.
Did You know?
– On an average a menstruator bleeds for 35 years
– The sanitary pads are made of 90% plastic
– Every single use sanitary pad is equivalent to 5 bags of plastic
– It takes anything between 500-800 years for plastic to biodegrade
Now, let’s do the math.
Number of sanitary pads used in a month x 5 (bags of plastic) x 12 (months) x 35 (average years of menstruation)
When I did use sanitary pads, I’d use around 8-12 pads in a month, which make the count as;
10 x 5 x 12 x 35 = 21000 pads in my period active lifetime!
This means that the first pad I ever used and every single one I’ve used over the years is going to be around much longer than me; harming the Earth and it’s beings.
I am aware that in reality there are many menstruators who are struggling to break the stigma around periods. Their periods and lives are impacted by society, culture and economic conditions and there is a need for individuals, organisations, civil society and state to work together to address this issue.
However, I also believe that there is a lot of power in small steps. There is an urgent need to initiate dialogue and action to address the politics, sustainability, inclusion, access and affordability around Menstrual Health and Hygiene.
All menstruators should have the right to make informed choices for their body and the planet.
By choosing a menstrual cup, I’ve limited the number of single use plastic sanitary pads to 8400.
What’s your count?
Are you willing to take a step towards better health and hygiene for yourself and those around you?
My relationship with periods is a complicated one; filled with moments of hate and love. In the last 2 years since I cupverted, I have taken out time to understand my body and the process of menstruation a lot more. In fact, the whole process of cupverting made me a lot more aware of my physical and emotional needs, which I’d completely ignored since my menarche.
The joys of cupverting have been many.
– I can now sneeze and cough without the fear of a blood pop-ups.
– Not afraid of the road bumps during rides and drives anymore.
– The freedom of peeing without the mess of blood everywhere!
– I can run, dance, swim, slide and move with extreme ease.
– Sleeping during periods was never this luxurious.
– Almost never leaks (unless I’ve not emptied in proper intervals).
If the cramps weren’t there, I wouldn’t even know that my periods are here; which is the case third day on wards.
Using the cup has been supremely fulfilling and liberating. The experience of cupverting made me curious about the issue of menstruation and is the reason why I’ve started on this journey of menstrual activism and advocacy for sustainable menstruation.
Menstruation is a human experience with multiple feelings and perspectives. My hope is to unfold these layers with inclusion, justice, dignity and equity for all menstruators.
Do you think the society would be different if men menstruated?
Do you think there would still be tax on essential sanitary products?
Do you think that the stigma around periods would disappear overnight?
When I asked my partner this question, his immediate response was and I quote, “More women would be world leaders and billionaires”. We then went into an in depth conversation around unpacking his comment and how the society has made an assumption about all menstruators being incompetent or inefficient because of a natural body function which they have no control over.
What if men had periods?
– There would definitely be a column for ‘Menstrual Leave’ application at workplace
– The onset of periods would be considered a sign of manhood
– The religious gurus would deem ‘Period’ a necessary criteria for all processes
– Period Talk would be casual and something to brag about
– There would be first period parties celebrating this masculine achievement
– There would be provisions for sanitary products in all public spaces
– There would be a whole line of menstrual products for men by multiple brands
– Facebook would have a status segment on ‘Started Menstruating’
– More research and investment on menstrual health and hygiene
– Better policies, especially for claiming public spaces supporting menstrual hygiene
According to a research conducted by WaterAid in 2015, Eight out of ten respondents told that the world of sport would change if men had periods (78%). Nearly a third believe that sports commentators would openly discuss how player’s menstrual cycles would affect their performance (29%), one in ten think that trainers would try to coordinate their players menstrual cycles (11%).
Gender equality is a goal in the SDGs and will continue to remain one for the next hundred years.
What do you think is the root cause of this mindset and what can be done to shift this narrative?
It was sparkling white and smelled like perfume. I took off the strips and put in evenly on my panties. It was uncomfortable but I didn’t have any other options. My grandmother remarked how lucky I was to have it, cause they used cloth in her days. Also, there was disappointment on her face for spending money on such expensive products for her granddaughter’s hygiene seemed abysmal.
I changed thrice during my first two days of period and moved to 2 pads during the next 3 days. I wrapped the used pads in a newspaper and disposed them from the back door of my house into the colony dumpster during the night.
Changing pads when not at home was a big hassle; especially if I forgot to carry a pad or a newspaper for disposal. There have also been instances where I’ve seen a soiled pad in the corner of the washroom or inside the pot. I remember this one time the entire girls toilet of ground floor in school was under maintenance because of clogging with sanitary pads.
That’s exactly what the life cycle of a pad looks like for most menstruators. The ‘out of sight, out of mind’ philosophy worked for me. The occasional scattering of pads on the road did bother me, but ignorance was bliss. After all, what could I do about it? Who managed this waste I was creating? Where did it go eventually?
According to a report by Menstrual Health Alliance India, 45% of menstrual waste often ends up with the household waste and increases the burden on the local administration on Solid Waste Management with respect to both process and people infrastructure. The increasing size of the landfills is telling us a story of how accumulation of used napkins can become harmful for all living beings and overall public health. Not that the cities have the processes sorted out; in some places the soiled pads are burned in incinerators which causes toxic emissions and is not an environment friendly solution.
Yes, it is my body and my choice. However, my choices also affect those around me. It is my duty to become responsible for the good of all people and planet.
So, what are you waiting for?
Did you know that the plastic sanitary pads you use are a serious health hazard?
Have you ever thought of checking the blue and green packets for ingredients that make up your sanitary pad? Go and take a look, you won’t find any!
A research conducted by Women’s Voices of the Earth mentions that a conventional sanitary pads is made up of – Styrene (Yes, the one that recently leaked in Vizag and caused deaths), Chloromethane (used in petroleum refining), Acetone (used in nail polish remover) and Cholroethane (commonly found in styrofoam). Tampons have plastic in them too, even in the string and plastic applicators are made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
There are a cocktail of chemicals added to a pad for fragrance and absorption. This property of soaking blood by the pads also result in RTI and UTI infections, causes rashes and creates a thriving environment for bacteria post disposal.
There is no transparency with respect to what goes into making the menstrual products. None of the chemicals are mentioned on the label. As consumers, don’t we have a right to know?
This also made me wonder what regulations do these FMCG companies have to follow? Who is policing these industries?
My hope is that the next question on your mind is ‘Now, what? What’s the alternative?’
I bought my menstrual cup during the Jagriti Yatra in 2016. Once I knew what a fantastic product it was, I had no reason to not purchase it. I got home and looked a few videos on how to use and immediately gave up. I did not know anyone who used a cup and I was hesitant to insert the cup into my vagina – What is if it hurt? What if it got stuck? What if it didn’t come out? What is it got lost in my uterus?
Then I moved from Hyderabad to Delhi and found 2 menstruators who used the cup in my college. There was an increase in the number of conversations around menstrual hygiene and discussions around the health and well being of women which piqued my interest back on this issue. I had been patiently following social media posts of friends who shared their cupverting stories and engaging with women who have made the switch to understand the process with more clarity.
A menstrual cup is made of medical grade silicon and is an affordable, environment friendly, sustainable alternative to sanitary napkins. Once inserted, it felt slightly uncomfortable at first but I soon got the hang of it. There are different folds that might work for you, the ‘punch-down fold’ worked best for me. I was jumping around with happiness and my new found freedom of using the magic cup. The best part though was sleeping like a boss with no fucks to give about stains, posture, leakage and smell.
On an average, a woman uses around 20,000 pads in her lifetime which could be around 130 kg of avoidable waste. It is important to start asking the right questions and exploring answers. Action Changes Things (ACT!) and hence, I’ve started taking sessions to create awareness and enable menstruators to make informed choices.
The use of the term menstruators is a purposeful shift in language with the aim to create awareness; that it is not just women who get periods. Transgender men and non-binary people (people who see themselves as both feminine and masculine) menstruate too. There are also women who do not menstruate.
There is already immense stigma associated with periods; and for trans people it becomes an added layer of shame and fear as they may need to hide their periods from the society. They may experience pain, discomfort and dysphoria but are not able to share about it freely even with doctors because of the fear of judgement and that of coming out or being exposed.
The ordeal of menstruation can also act as a constant reminder for trans people that they do not identify with the body/gender they were assigned at birth. It can be a very challenging journey mentally and emotionally as well.
There needs to be shift in the attitude of talking about menstruation and normalising conversations around all period perspectives. Everyone has a different relationship with their periods and it is critical to acknowledge it.
Now that you are slightly more aware, the rule of thumb to follow – “Not all women get their periods, and not everyone that gets their period is a woman!”
Yes, periods are sometimes unbearable and make everything around seem intolerable and unpleasant. Adding to that, the cocktail of hormones makes it a very stressful period (pun intended!). Over the years, I’ve had some very interesting and funny period moments and shared stories with friends.
This one time my periods were super late and it was really irritating. I told my partner that if periods were a sign that I wasn’t pregnant, why could it just come to say hello for a second and then fuck off!
Another time we were discussing the different types of sanitary pads available and how insanely expensive they were, with fragrance, softness and extra large wings. Might as well put a few gold strings too that they could be used for vintage jewelry in the future.
I love how unpredictable I become on my period. My partner is always on the edge wondering if I’m going to get angry about my dream last night or start crying because there’s less salt in the pasta or be all excited to make out like a teenager. I have too much fun teasing him!
I keep using period blood as an analogy for all the TV shows that show bloodshed. Like, “Hey, I do it every month. What’s the big deal?” Makes me feel like a bad-ass.
Also, every time I’ve worn light colored clothes and the uterus starts throwing a tantrum; I’m silently praying to all the 8473292338 gods to wait till I change and the prayers are never answered. Do you even have a white dress without an almost invisible bleached blood spot?
‘Feminist Killjoy’ is my newest favorite description for myself. Since I was able to comprehend my surroundings and give words to feelings; I’ve been killing joy all through my life – at home, school, college, in relationships, at workplaces, in the public.
Have you been told – “Why are YOU being so difficult?”
Or “Why do only YOU have a problem?”
Or “Why do these things happen to YOU?”
Or “Why did YOU have to butt your nose there?”
Or “Why do YOU always have an opinion?”
Or “Why can’t YOU be like other girls?”
Or “What make YOU an expert?”
Or “Why couldn’t YOU just do what is being told?”
Or ” Why can’t YOU take a joke?”
Or “Who gave YOU the right to talk like this?”
Quoting the author Sara Ahmed, “Does the feminist kill other people’s joy by pointing out moments of sexism? Or does she expose the bad feelings that get hidden, displaced, or negated under public signs of joy?”
This is exactly why Periods make people uncomfortable, there is stigma attached to it and there is a phenomenon of shaming associated with the process.
Because menstruators are natural kill joys; they challenge the domination over their bodies, they dare to speak up and out against the status quo; they point out issues of misogyny, sexism and the cycle of patriarchal values being perpetuated over a natural, normal body function.
The euphemisms, the hiding, the myths, the fear, the uncleanness, the disgust, the dirt, the silence, the shame – all of it make it impossible for menstruators to own periods as their right. This is one more addition to the list of reasons for oppressing women and non-conforming genders.
If you’re reading this, please start engaging in conversations in your immediate network and breaking down this wall of age old nonsense. Be a feminist killjoy!
The menstrual cycle is a monthly occurrence and happens when the eggs produced by the ovary reach the uterus and it gets ready for it to be fertilized and the fertilisation doesn’t occur. We all know this, don’t we? Then why all the fuss? Why do we need to make so much effort to normalise conversation around this natural process?
The menstrual hygiene week begins tomorrow and is a good time to remind everyone that ‘Anything you can do, I can do bleeding’.
Why are menstruators considered weak?
Why is it said that ‘You throw like a girl’?
Why does everyone have to ‘Man Up’?
Why are people asked to ‘Grow some balls’?
If anything, menstruators should be the poster people for strength. They study, run, play, work, dance, swim, draw, cook, travel, write, sing, act and save lives while bleeding. They also lead, manage, inspire, govern, advocate, love, dream and care during their cycle.
This is not to say that menstruators are equal to men. I don’t have to sit through a meeting with immense cramps to justify that ‘I can do it bleeding’. In fact, giving in to this process is perpetuating the regressive values of control over female bodies and dominance over their individual choices. Understanding that I can do everything men can even while bleeding, and choosing not to do it is what menstrual liberation is all about. I don’t have to be strong for the sake of it; acknowledging that I need rest, sleep and care is also a big part of the menstrual movements across the globe.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” ~ Audre Lorde
Every body is unique and needs to be celebrated.
It is great to see so many people and organisations talking about periods and shattering the mirrors of shame, stigma and silence. Let us continue pushing this menstrual activism to newer levels while being inclusive of all people and planet.
Is this the ‘new normal’?
Will the definition of ‘normal’ change now?
What will this ‘new normal’ look like?
Let’s shift the meaning of ‘normal’
Balancing the ‘new normal’
Embracing the ‘new normal’
Are you tired of hearing this too? Are you also confused with the intellectualism in the air?
When the term started making the buzz, the first thought in my mind was – Who said that the society I am a part of is ‘normal’? Who gets to decide this ‘new normal’? Do I really need a new definition of ‘normal’? Or Did I need to challenge the existing flawed understanding of ‘normal’?
In the context of menstruation, normal is a critical word. Getting periods for me is normal. People who don’t identify as female bleeding once a month is normal. Having different disorders because of periods is normal. Doing everything, anything and nothing while I am bleeding is normal. My dress getting stained, asking for a pad, eating the pickle, entering a place of worship and washing my hair; is normal.
You know who decided Menstruation wasn’t ‘normal’? People with privilege, power, economic capital and authority who wanted to control the narrative and influence the masses (primarily, so called educated upper class and caste men).
The normal has been before us for long now; but it has continuously been made invisible, drowning it in myths, with the sheet of shame.
And so I wonder, that when this ‘new normal’ is being defined – Who is going to do it? Which voices will be heard? Whose stories will be told? Who will call the shots? How will the decisions be made? How will I know what’s happening?
Hope is a good thing to have. Possibly, the normal is becoming a lot more visible now and this could be an opportunity for all of us.
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep” ~ Robert Frost
Justice D Y Chandrachud in his judgement in the Sabarimala case had said that, “Exclusion of women, based on age or menstrual status is a form of “untouchability” which places them in a “subordinate” position, perpetuated “patriarchy” and is “derogatory to their dignity”, allowing them entry to the shrine.
He also said that “Article 17 certainly applies to untouchability practices in relation to lower castes, but it will also apply to the systemic humiliation, exclusion and subjugation faced by women.”
Read it, Understand it, Remember it and Practice it. Period.
Source – News 18 article, September, 2018
Period pain for all menstruators is different, just as their period experience is. Our bodies, diets, lifestyle, geographical location and work have a huge role to play on how menstruation affects us. John Guillebaud, professor of reproductive health at University College London, says cramping can be as “bad as having a heart attack.” And yet, workplaces have a long way to go in terms of inculcating mindset shifts and implementing the menstrual leave policy in their organisations.
An article in Outlook highlights a 2012 study that mentioned how 96 per cent of the female workforce (it’s 91 for males) is employed in the informal sector, where staying home due to menstrual pain usually means losing a day’s wages or, worse, getting replaced.
Ninong Ering, a Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha representing Arunachal Pradesh tabled the ‘Menstruation Benefit Bill’ in 2018 which aimed to provide women working in the public and private sectors two days of paid menstrual leave every month and better facilities for rest at the workplace during menstruation. There was/is a segment of women who were/are against menstrual leaves. Their argument is that they would have to face bias during hiring, promotions and being considered for leadership roles. Given that women already have it difficult at workplaces, they don’t want an additional issue to be a limitation in their career.
But, this is exactly what needs to be challenged. I should not be scared to be vulnerable during my periods and share it with my colleagues or take time off to rest and nurture my body and mind. Almost, everyone without a uterus has an opinion on how menstrual leaves will affect efficiency and productivity at workplace. Should I be punished for a normal function of my body? Am I not giving in to the patriarchal norms when I have to ‘perform’ while being in pain?
However, in the context of India where even the word ‘Periods’ is met with raised eyebrows and stirs up discomfort, it is going to be a highly controversial conversation in terms of drafting a policy and implementing it. Nonetheless, a few progressive organisations like Culture Machine, Gozoop and ISDM have put a menstrual leave policy in place and hopefully will inspire others to join this journey of building compassion and equity at workplaces.
Lifestyle shifts are not easy. It requires a strong motivation and will to go that extra mile.
My reason of making the switch from a single use sanitary pad to a menstrual cup was primarily because of the environment. I had started reading more about single use plastic waste and began going deep into research about sustainability.
The thought of my first ever sanitary pad still being a part of Earth for another 700 years disgusted me. Also, I had started to understand the role of class and caste how they were interconnected with the communities of waste pickers, manual scavengers and sanitation workers; who were responsible for handling the waste I was producing every month. After having all this information, it was a no brainer to make the choice to an eco-friendly alternative.
The cup has changed my outlook about periods being ‘dirty’. The smell that came while using sanitary pads was not because of the blood. It was because of the blood being absorbed by the cocktail of chemicals in the pad. My blood didn’t have a foul smell. It has also liberated me about touching my own blood and disposing it myself. No points for guessing the tonnes of waste which I am not contributing to the landfills anymore!
Any new way of doing things will be inconvenient and will push me out of my existing frame of mind. However, persistence to challenge the mental models and overcoming the initial fear is what self-empowerment is all about.
On an average, a menstruator has 420 periods in their lifetime where they go through the ordeal of managing their health, the right products, their well being and not to mention navigating the monthly process of the menstrual cycle.
With the politics, social norms and cultural challenges; there is never going to be a ‘right time’ for period pride. Our bodies are complex and beautiful and we should have complete ownership of them. The taboos and stigma have controlled the narrative around menstruation for too long. The intersection of Menstruation with Education, Health, Employment, Environment and Community are becoming increasingly visible; with girls dropping out of school, limited research on women’s health, restrictive workplace policies, tons of menstrual waste filling our landscape every year and the dire need to be inclusive of other genders in menstrual activism.
Every menstruator should have the right to make informed choices and bleed with dignity for a healthier life.
The time to act is NOW!
Did you know that the actual words ‘menstruation’ and ‘menses’ come from the Latin word ‘mensis’ which means ‘month’ and relates to the Greek word ‘mene’ which means ‘moon’? For long now, people have associated the female energy and fertility with the moon and hence, it is only natural to think of periods being linked to the moon cycle as well.
There is a study to prove that a large number of women do menstruate during the new moon compared to other days. However, Clue analysed 7.5 million cycles and found no correlation between lunar phases and the menstrual cycle.
The one way menstrual and lunar cycles can be connected is the duration of both (~29 days) which was apparently relevant to early human. But their is no scientific explanation for the same. One may track their fertility and period cycle based on the moon cycle, but its effectiveness hasn’t been proven yet.
I found it intriguing to think that this myth is the only one which doesn’t connect menstruation with shame and stigma; rather something that could potentially be magical and has mystical roots.
On an average, a menstruator bleeds for 35 years, 420 periods and losing 80ml of blood every cycle.
The perspectives around menstruation are social, cultural, political and financial. It intersects with the domains of education, health, hygiene, mental well being, employment, environment, sustainability and gender equality.
We can continue being blindsided with inconvenience, privilege and superstitions. Or leverage our knowledge, capacities, networks and privilege towards creating safe and powerful spaces to inspire individuals for action.
I truly believe in menstrual equity and that every menstruator has the right to make informed choices and bleed with dignity. I have learnt a lot about the issue through this campaign and will continue to seek, advocate and contribute to perspectives on this issue.
Happy Menstrual Hygiene Day!
Art Work Download – The images are available for download with due credits. For credits please use – witterati.home.blog/Nitisha.
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