“How would the pickle know that I’m having my periods,” Vaishali Singh wondered as a girl when her family told her that if she touched the pickle jar while having her periods, it would spoil. The tragedy in this seemingly funny experience is that this is not just Vaishali’s story. Most menstruators have faced similar experiences of superstition, taboo and discrimination during “those days” at least once in our lives.
“Don’t visit the temple”, “Don’t enter the kitchen”, “Don’t sleep on the bed”, “Don’t touch things”; the list goes on with creative manifestations of the stigma around something as simple and natural as menstruation. Menstruation, an essential process in the continuation of our species, has been stigmatised for ages.
More of us must talk about menstruation in an unapologetic, unabashed manner. This is important to fight the stigma, taboo, and superstition and fight more serious problems like inequalities in sanitary hygiene and the resultant reproductive health complications.
It is increasingly important to fight the stigma against periods to raise awareness about sustainable menstrual waste management and the environmental impacts of disposable sanitary pad waste. The damaging impact of plastic-based disposable sanitary pads on the environment makes it an issue that goes beyond barriers of gender, caste, and income. That is why a candid, unabashed conversation is needed on the issue. In order to raise awareness about the impact of disposable sanitary pads on the environment, we must also break barriers to an open discussion on the topic of menstruation itself.
That is why on Independence Day 2020, eArth Samvarta Foundation (eSF) organised the “Independence in Periods” Online Jan Charcha. The conversation invited women from different generations and walks of life from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for a candid talk on their experiences of stigma against menstruation.
The conversation was full of lessons and laughter as the group shared their experiences in a candid, uninhibited manner. It demonstrated how conversations on menstruation don’t need to be a cause of shame or taboo and can instead be meaningful exchanges. Only when we talk and share, overcoming the shackles of shame, can we raise awareness on menstrual health and sustainable menstrual practices.
The following excerpts are from the Independence in Menstruation Conversation held on Independence Day 2020
Have you ever felt the need to use a code-word for “periods”? What are some of the code words you have used or heard?
Sunita Sharma (homemaker, age 58) said that they would say “chipkali chu gayi” if they wanted to express that they were on their periods, something she learned from her mother.
Vaishali Singh (Civil Servant, age 28) exclaimed how she never understood why people called it “Masik Dharm”. Why “Dharm”?
Manjula Jhunjhunwala (leading educationist and philanthropist in Ayodhya, age 68) said that in her family they never used any code word for periods, but they would avoid talking about it or be very hush about the topic. Ms Manjula has seen the scenario change across 4 generations. She hoped that with time society-at-large would not hesitate to talk about menstruation and would overcome the stigma.
Nida Fatima (Entrepreneur in Ayodhya, age 28) shared how this was the first time she was talking about periods so openly, let alone on a social platform. Being from a conservative family the common “code word” for menstruation used by her among her friends was “Jam ki bottle toot gayi”.
Somewhere in the laughter, we broke the barriers of hesitation in discussing periods. Simultaneously, while the answers made us and the viewers laugh, they also made us reflect why there was a need for “code words” in discussing something as simple and natural as menstruation.
Have you ever faced any discrimination against menstruation personally?
The answers to this question were quite insightful. We discussed the discriminations and came across some inspiring stories about how these amazing women have stood against these discriminations.
Vaishali started the thread by saying that she would touch all the “Aachar” when she was younger, even when everyone told her not to. Adding to this, Manjula Jhunjhunwala shared her experiences saying that they were not allowed to enter the kitchen or participate in family meetings or do “pujas” and how their mothers were supposed to sit on nylon sheets during “those days”. Vaishali Singh shared how it was common to have friends whisper to you if one accidentally stained their uniform.
For Ms Chandarprabha Sharma (Public Policy Professional and CEO and co-founder eSF) the discrimination became more apparent when she went to buy her sanitary pads for the first time and the chemist began packing it in a black polythene bag. Out of the habit of reducing her plastic footprint, she told the shopkeeper that she didn’t want a polythene bag and he visibly seemed concerned about how she would carry the pack of sanitary pads in full view.
This incident compelled Ms Chandarprabha to reflect upon the entire life cycle of waste generated due to disposable plastic-based sanitary pads (with the compulsion that consumers and shopkeepers feel to hide them in black polythene bags). She explained how disposable plastic-based sanitary pads pose a risk of infections and contribute to environmental degradation as they contain plastic and bleach.
She said that eSF aimed to have 10% of menstruating women in Ayodhya shift from plastic-based sanitary napkins to eco-friendly alternatives, like cotton pads and menstrual cups, in 1 year with the support of Nagar Nigam Ayodhya and Youth Ki Awaaz.
To Ms Manjula Jhunjhunwala: As a pioneering educationist of Ayodhya, can you shed light on how we can encourage a positive discussion in schools to fight stigma against menstruation?
Manjula Jhunjhunwala stressed on the role of schools in fighting the stigma around menstruation, encouraging positive discussions around menstrual health and hygiene so that “periods” wouldn’t be an issue to feel ashamed of. She also hoped that with non-menstruators also being included in the discussions, menstruation would not remain just a “women’s issue” anymore. Both menstruating and non-menstruating individuals would be able to talk about it without any stigma.
She spoke to us about how “knowing about menstruation” is a part of her school’s (JBA, Ayodhya) life skills curriculum and all the girls know about menstrual hygiene by the age of 12. She also said that teachers in her school take sessions with these girls to give them a chance to talk about periods and support them through this change. She emphasised that many menstruators in her school would be interested in shifting to more eco-friendly alternatives with awareness.
To Vaishali Singh: As a dedicated animal welfare volunteer, how do you see menstrual waste harming animals?
Vaishali highlighted the lack of awareness among people about the importance of waste management and shared her neighbourhood experience. People would dump their waste on the streets even after having a proper waste collection system by Ayodhya Nagar Nigam. When menstrual waste is dumped on the streets, street animals, especially the stray dogs, confound this with a food source. She also talked about how she came across situations where plastic from pads would get stuck in their throat and she had to remove those using her hands.
Menstrual waste when dumped into the drain ultimately reaches the Saryu river in Ayodhya and harms the river ecosystem which is home to India’s National Aquatic Animal, the endangered freshwater Gangetic Dolphins.
In continuation, she also shared how eSF in Ayodhya had discovered the dead body of a young Gangetic dolphin from Sarayu river during the Swachh Saryu Abhiyan. Upon post-mortem, they found plastic waste in its food pipe. Such incidents have inspired her and should inspire everyone in creating a safer place for all forms of life.
Vaishali also mentioned how an eco-conscious woman could decide on her own to switch to an eco-friendly alternative like menstrual cups or cotton pads and make a difference.
To Nida Fatima: Being an integral part of Ayodhya’s waste management initiative, creating eco-friendly handicrafts, what are your views on menstrual waste?
Nida Fatima shared how initially her handicraft venture in Ayodhya wasn’t focussing on eco-friendly art. It was when she participated in one of eSFs Art for a Cause event, where she painted a wall with an awareness message for conservation of the Saryu river, that she started creating art that wouldn’t harm the environment when it is disposed of or art that would turn waste into something beautiful.
She also shared how she was considering switching to eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products because they were safer for the planet and safer for her health. She shared that she had a discussion with her mother about using menstrual cups and wanted to share the information with their domestic help, as cups are more affordable in the long run than sanitary pads.
She also believes that discussing eco-friendly alternatives and experiences could help reduce sanitary pads’ environmental impact and encourage open conversation on periods and fight the stigma. She highlights how the Planet Friendly Periods campaign can help with this.
To Chandarprabha Sharma: Can you please explain more about the Planet Friendly Periods campaign and the eco-friendly alternatives?
The Planet Friendly Periods campaign with support from Youth Ki Awaaz and in partnership with Nagar Nigam Ayodhya is working to operationalise the support system needed by menstruators considering trying to switch to eco-friendly products for menstrual hygiene. The campaign is run online, digitally and also has a pilot site in Ayodhya.
While Ayodhya embarks on its development path, sustainable waste management is an important priority for Nagar Nigam Ayodhya under the leadership of Nagar Ayukt Vishal Singh. Within waste management too, sanitary pads are an especially pressing concern as there aren’t many sustainable ways to safely dispose of plastic-based disposable sanitary pads (the WHO advises incineration must be above 800°C, which is an energy-intensive process wherein special attention needs to be taken for emissions control and treatment).
Thus, it is clear that one good way to address the challenge of disposing of sanitary pad wastage is to reduce the waste generated in the first place. Planet Friendly Periods campaign was launched by eSF to create awareness and provide a support system for any menstruator considering switching to sustainable products.
In the online version of the campaign, changemakers who wish to switch to eco-friendly period products join the Facebook group Planet Friendly Period Changemakers where information on eco-friendly products and FAQs and doubts are discussed. A new module with more direct engagement will be launched soon.
To Sunita Sharma: As a mother, what was your experience when you first heard about your daughter’s choice to switch to a new type of product for menstrual hygiene?
Sunita shared that initially she was sceptical about the safety of the product because she didn’t have any experience using menstrual cups. There was also the nagging question in her head about the hymen breaking due to the menstrual cup. However, her daughter’s conviction was to reduce the waste footprint that eventually convinced her about the necessity of switching to a sustainable product.
Her daughter also guided her cousins and the daughter of their domestic help to switch to a sustainable product. She felt more confident when they too shared their comfort and ease with the sustainable alternatives. Her daughter and her cousins switching to a menstrual cups was a journey of unlearning the pressures and stigma around virginity, she shared.
Chandarprabha highlighted that one of the concerns she often heard, especially from mothers of the menstruators who were considering switching to the cup was that the menstrual cup would cause the hymen to break. She highlighted how this is rooted in patriarchal concepts of “virginity” and the pressures that a woman’s hymen must be intact till her marriage. The conversation around menstrual cups can also help lead open conversations on the construct of virginity and the resultant pressures and stigma faced to “keep their virginity intact”.
What’s next for the Planet Friendly Periods campaign?
A network of Planet Friendly Periods champions is the first and foremost requirement for raising awareness about the environmental and health disadvantages of disposable plastic-based sanitary pads. eSF is building this network with menstruators signing up to switch to a sustainable alternative and helping at least one more menstruator learn about eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products.
For example, Chandarprabha highlighted how Nida Fatima discussed this idea with her mother and their domestic help. They would possibly discuss this with someone else, starting a positive cycle of awareness building.
Planet Friendly Periods Campaign already has over 200 members in their Facebook group and it’s just the start. They also launched a survey to spread awareness on eco-friendly products for periods. Over 200 people across genders have responded with many of them signing up to switch to eco-friendly products or raise awareness about them.
She highlights that the Planet Friendly Periods campaign’s flagship location is Ayodhya. With Ayodhya on the path of rapid development, waste management is a priority. Within waste management, plastic-based sanitary pads is a type of waste which is a pressing concern. Planet Friendly Periods aims to reduce the waste generation of the plastic-based sanitary pads by raising awareness and enabling menstruators to shift to more eco-friendly sanitary products. This would be safer for the health of the menstruator and the health of our planet.
By Urbari Jana (researcher with eSF and has a background in engineer, with a passion for sustainability and environment conservation)