Normalizing period stains
Irony I find is that in a action scene where there would be quite a representation of human blood with all the action, we just watch the scene with interest. But when it comes to menstrual blood stains that a female gets on her clothes (or even blood in sanitary napkins ad), we get disgusted.
Instagram handle named Feminist has uploaded a social experiment reel where a teenager got her pants stained and people just walked away looking at it, not bothering to let her know or give her help until a girl in the ends does it by giving sweatshirt to tie around the waist. Though this was most probably staged, but this is reality of a lot of girls.
There was also this video long time ago where boys around 10-13yrs of age were planning to make fun of their classmate when she got a period stain (misunderstanding it for urine), by nicknaming her 'acid'. To watch the video, click here. This video proves how much we need education about periods, for all the genders, even before girls and those with uterus hit puberty. Educating girls about periods when they get their first period doesn't seem to make so much sense to me. If any girl gets it outside their house, she might end up panicking about it as she wouldn't know what it is.
I remember getting my first period stain at school. I was maybe in 6th standard, year around 2013/2014 (those years, periods were a very hush-hush topic and we were told to not tell anyone else about it, especially males). By the end of the school hours, my whole bench got red. The guy sitting behind me noticed it and started screaming that there is blood on the bench, and at that point, I had really wished to punch him so he shuts up (didn't punched though). But now when I look back at it, I know it's the hush-hush and stigma around menstruation and periods that needs to be punched, not boys who are unaware about periods. But those boys who know and are still ignorant or sexist about it are hopeless cases.
On this Menstrual Hygiene Day (28 May) and everyday later, we need to start normalizing period stains. Give factual period education: what it is, why it happens, menstrual products, menstrual hygiene etc, to both our boys and girls (and other genders) before they even hit puberty. Having working pad dispensers at washrooms of every educational institution, workplace, restaurants/cafes, malls or other tourist attraction.
Periods are already hellhole- uncomfortable and/or painful. We do not need uncomfortable stares to make it worse by humiliating or by making a laughing stock of her for the stain🙂. If you cannot help, don't make it worse either for her (or any menstruator).
Related blogposts to read-
(Read the blogpost first before directly jumping to conclusions by the word😅😂💁)
.jpeg)
Comments
Post a Comment