In my childhood, during the Doordarshan days, I used to love TV ads and almost knew the dialogues and music by heart. I’d identify and had an idea about almost all the products which appeared in commercials, except for one. There was one advertisement which I couldn’t relate to, and all these ads had similar format, where a girl/girls explaining something, making a dull face and they were talking about something which I couldn’t understand. I am talking about the ads about sanitary napkins.
My curious mind was searching for an answer. I knew that the product was for women / girls, but I couldn’t understand the purpose of it. So I turned to my mom for an answer. I still remember her blushful face when I asked this question.
She said “I don’t know”, still keeping a smile on her face. And her smile proved that there is something about this product which she doesn’t want to reveal. I kept asking her, but she didn’t tell me anything at first.
One day, My neighbor aunt visited our house and this ad appeared on the TV. I asked my Mom, Mom asked me to ask aunt, And aunt made a face, it was almost like she just had an electric shock and her response was “I don’t know what it is”.
Few days later there was a wedding which we had to attend and it was decided in the morning that everyone will be attending the function. But after finishing the house hold chores, Mom declared that she won’t be coming to the wedding. I was a little sad at first but then I asked her the reason. She told me that a crow touched her! And now she won’t be able to go temple for a few days.
I was like, how on earth a crow can ruin our plans and moreover I was with her all throughout the entire morning and I haven’t seen any single crow touching her. I wasn’t convinced with the answer and also started developing hatred towards that crow for touching my Mom.
After few days, My Mom knew that I was clearly confused when the same AD appeared on the TV, she finally caved in and told me what the product was all about and why they use such product. That was the first time I heard about menstruation. Yes, she told me! Without a grain of hesitation on her face. I asked her that I haven’t seen her purchasing it and she told she is using cloths instead.
At first it seemed funny to me, because of the whole linking of crow as a code word, but when she told that this is a monthly process which almost every woman goes through, I realized that this wasn’t a funny business. I mean, I can’t sit in a my wet undergarments for an hour and to imagine how they can handle this for days and that too every month, was mind boggling. This is where I tried to imagine myself in that situation and I truly felt that this is not something I would want for myself.
And at a later point of time, it was my Dad who tried to explain me the science behind menstruation and he helped me to understand it even better.
May be incidents like this shaped my perception towards women and maybe that is why I have become more empathetic in general and towards their struggles.
The featured photo is my solidarity with those people who are fighting against the taboo associated with choice of clothes.