College is a space where one is exposed to new ideas and ways of doing things. It is the one space where one can meet new people, unlearn toxic behaviours that have been taught to them and learn to be more open and make opinions for one’s own self.
The University of Delhi provides both co-ed study environments to its students. Over the years, as the students attending the University of Delhi became more liberal and progressive, the environment around the university and its various colleges adapted as well. But does this ring true for menstruation?
Menstruation is a topic whose treatment changes according to where and around whom the conversation is taking place. But are girls college and co-ed colleges on an equal footing on issues regarding menstruation? I decided to speak to some students about this.
Girls’ Colleges
Girls’ colleges within the University of Delhi have a reputation for being ‘too girly’, and ‘fashion-conscious’. After attending co-ed schools, some girls may be inclined to shirk away from the mere idea of studying at an all-girls college – I was too. But now, as a student in a girls’ college, I can attest to the fact that those are false statements.
Girls’ colleges tend to act as safe spaces for women in a city notorious for being unsafe for them. They are more open in conversation. Maybe it is because of how relatable these issues are; it is easy to talk about topics that are conventionally considered taboo like masturbation, sex, and menstruation.
Girls from backgrounds that are not open about menstruation may initially face some challenges. But being a part of such an open environment for three years does bring a difference into their demeanours as well, making them confident and able to talk about the issue at public platforms.
In girls’ colleges, open conversation between students and teachers lead to spread of correct information. The campuses are more sensitive to women’s needs, like easy access to pads and tampons, menstruation friendly washrooms and environment. But don’t just take my word for it.
Saagarika, a second-year student from Kamala Nehru College, says, “I am in a girls’ college, and it is sort of empowering to see sanitary napkins in the washroom and not feel embarrassed.” But does this openness have anything to do with the absence of boys on campus? “With the girls, I can talk openly, but if there are any boys present, I wouldn’t openly say the word periods,” she continues.
Co-Ed Colleges
Discussions on menstruation are relatively harder to have in a co-ed environment. This behaviour may arise from the shame around this topic women have internalized while growing up. The presence of men can hinder open conversations due to women’s internalized stigma.
Although there is easy access to pads and tampons, as there are vending machines for sanitary pads in washrooms, facilities such as menstruation-friendly toilets tend to be lacking in co-ed colleges. The lack of open conversations and inherent shame does not let these topics come to the forefront, and hence they go unaddressed and unresolved.
“My campus might not be a safe space to talk openly about menstruation; it’s difficult, being from a co-ed college. I don’t feel the need to use euphemisms while discussing periods but being loud about it can attract unwanted attention,” says Ankita, a second-year student from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.
When asked if the washrooms in her college were period-friendly, Navya, her classmate, claims, “We do have dustbins to dispose of the tampons and pads, but I don’t think that the trash cans are regularly changed, which leads to bad odours. We have an automatic machine whereby inserting a minimum rupee we get a pad. Although at some point, we do feel the need to hide the pads and tampons. Men seem to make a huge deal out of them.”
Even if girls colleges are more accepting of their students’ menstrual needs, co-ed colleges really need to catch up in providing the same amenities for their students. Since some of the shame the girls feel comes from the presence of boys who are not entirely comfortable with the topic, it would perhaps prove useful to include them in seminars and discussions about periods: it may help decrease the stigma.
It is important that no matter what environment girls are studying in, they feel that their college campus is a space where they are free to learn more, make their own observations and opinions, and be honest with and about themselves.
These views and facts only hold true for the University of Delhi. India is home to many other reputed public and private universities, each of which would have their own facilities for menstruation. Each community and place has its own way of treating and talking about periods.
These traditions and practices are passed down from generation to generation. However, as girls move out of their hometowns and families for purposes of higher education, they are exposed to different attitudes and customs, some of which may directly contradict those they have grown up learning and observing.
Delhi is known for being the city where people from all over India come to fulfil their dream of a better life, loaded with new opportunities and avenues. Living independently for the first time can come with its fair share of problems and issues, and menstruation has its own too. So how do girls cope with being exposed to attitudes so different from what they have grown up with when they come to Delhi for higher education?
Change In The Attitude Of The New City
Delhi is one of the bigger metropolitan cities of India, which boasts of homing people of all backgrounds. Over the years, it has developed a more positive outlook compared to other parts of the country towards things like live-in relationships, queer pride, and menstruation.
Abhilasha, a second-year student from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College who shifted from Uttarakhand, says, “I was glad that people are more educated about this in Delhi. Here there’s less misinformation, and people do accept periods. Especially men, they seem to be a lot more understanding.”
Due to Delhi being a relatively more progressive city, the reach to information regarding menstruation is also larger. It is easier to learn about and gain access to things related to periods which may not yet be available in other parts of the nation such as period panties and biodegradable sanitary pads. Abhilasha continues, “I came to know about menstrual cups here. I can also talk about it on a public platform without shame and the fear of being judged now.”
Change In Perceptions
Living and studying in a different place from one’s hometown does bring with it a lot of change in one’s own attitudes. The exposure in the new environment can help one develop different viewpoints and build one’s own opinions away from their family.
Saagarika, a second-year student from Uttarakhand, studying in Kamala Nehru College says, “After coming to Delhi, I’ve learned not to be too embarrassed about it, and be upfront and open about any pain that I’m having instead of suffering silently and making excuses. I can now openly talk about cramps with my dad, and he’d understand and ask me to rest, so that is something that has changed. The social stigma that was attached to periods and blood used to be a thing of embarrassment for me; it is now a source of strength.”
Living alone also makes one more independent. Buying one’s own pads and tampons, dealing with the various body aches becomes something that has to be dealt with unassisted. Ankita, another second-year student from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, who came to Delhi from West Bengal comments, “The one difference I can point out is that I really do not complain about my pains on periods anymore. Living alone in Delhi has helped me in strengthening myself.”
Acquiring more awareness and developing new attitudes about menstruation in the new surroundings also does come with the responsibility of sharing those facts and reducing misinformation. Do families accept new viewpoints that their children have picked up whilst staying away?
Abhilasha replies, “I now feel that this is something that needs to be talked about more and the old people need to be educated more. Men also should be educated about it without any shame, and it should be treated as the normal biological phenomenon it is. I tried to educate my grandmother about it, and to an extent, she really seems to understand more.”
But girls should not have to shift away from their families and homes in order to have access to correct and more details about their periods. It is thus vital that this information is dispensed back to the roots of ignorance.
Its youth spearheads change in society. If girls can share the positive attitudes and facts that they have learned back in their hometowns, bringing about the required change in regard to menstruation should not be a difficult task.