PETALING JAYA: Although menstruation is a natural process, many women still speak in hushed tones when it comes to speaking about “that time of the month”.
Aminah Rahman, 33, comes from a traditional Muslim family and she never talked about menstruation with her mother.
“I got my period when I was 12. I didn’t know what it was. There was blood coming out, and I freaked out and was in denial. I didn’t say anything to anyone,” she said.
Her mother then noticed the blood stains and told her that she was a “big girl now”.
“I never had the talk with my parents about menstruation or sexual reproduction. I had to find that out on my own,” she said.
Gender and religious studies associate professor at Monash University Sharon Bong said that menstruation is considered a taboo topic among many households largely because of the mindset that it is “dirty”.
In some countries in South Asia, women are considered sources of pollution to the point of them being ostracised during their periods.
Chhaupadi is a social tradition that dates back centuries and has its roots in Hindu taboos over menstruation.
“Women are isolated and separated from their families in tiny menstruation huts, which are small ramshackle buildings that often have no door, no windows, and poor sanitation and ventilation,” said Bong.
“Women who are on their periods are forbidden from touching other people, livestock, plants, fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Bong says the notion of contamination is not a rational or scientific one.
“Menstruation is not like a virus or cold. It is a largely superstitious logic,” she said.
“They believe if a woman touches a man, he will fall sick, if she touches a tree, it will no longer bear fruit,” said Bong.
This practice occurs in remote villages in South Asia, but Bong says that urban cities still have residual mindsets.
“Women or young girls' bodies are seen as polluting or unclean,” she said.
“Sentiments like disgust and shame are unreasonably attached to a natural biological rhythm in a women.
“Sometimes, that mindset and gender discrimination spills over the other three weeks of the month,” said Bong.
Several women have died while practising Chhaupadi. In Nepal, women have been reported to have died from smoke inhalation from lighting fires to keep warm in the hut, while others have died from snakebites.
Although Chhaupadi was outlawed by the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2005, the practice still continues.
In August, Nepal’s parliament passed a Bill that would criminalise the practice.
Once the law comes into effect, anyone who forces a woman into a menstrual hut will be sentenced to three months in prison or fined US$30 (RM126).
Bong believes that people have become more open to talking about menstruation, especially the younger population.
“I don’t think women and girls feel the need to hide that they are on their period, and I think parents are more open to speaking about menstruation to their kids,” she said.
“I hope that the discussion will move towards sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and sex education,” said Bong.
Aminah said that while her parents didn’t speak to her about menstruation, she would take a different approach with her daughter.
“When my daughter is older, I won’t shy away from talking about menstruation or reproductive health,” she said.
“I think they should know these things. If you deprive them of that knowledge, then they would be more curious to find out and may get the wrong information. It is our responsibility to educate them as parents,” said Aminah.
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