MENSTRUAL TABOOS AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS By Anahita Dube

As the humankind evolves its horizons and spreads its wings in different spectrums of life through technology, knowledge and freedom it is still far away from overcoming the societal restrictions that hinders its growth. The era of millennials as we refer to the 21st century, still needs to overcome the preposterous socio-cultural customs that hampers the overall development. Among so many unscientific and unreasonable societal malpractices, is “Menstrual Taboo”. The thought process where a natural phenomenon is not widely accepted clearly indicates how far behind the humankind is in respect to humanity, development and advancement. It has been commonly observed that the society as a whole feels apprehensive and uncomfortable when it comes to discuss a simple but essential biological process of Menstruation.

Due to so many different societal comprehensions of menstruation the health of women and young girls gets compromised. They feel uncomfortable discussing a simple biological phenomenon due all these constraints around it. With the negative and forbidden approach and mindset towards menstruation, it has affected the society and humankind in some very adverse ways. The abominable thought process has given rise to heedless unhealthy patterns observed in the society.

Around the world millions of young girls and women are not met with the basic requirement of proper sanitation. During the menstrual cycle women and girls are deemed as corrupt and impure. All around the globe menstruation is associated with different ritual practices and these are performed in various different forms on young girls. According to the UNICEF, traditional Bolivian beliefs misinforms young girls and women that disposal of menstrual pads along with other garbage can lead to sickness or cancer1. In developing and poor countries like India, menstruating women and girls are not allowed at holy occasions and places. Women of rural or uneducated communities are not provided with proper sanitation and are made to sit, eat and live separately as from the rest of their family members during their cycle. These are just a few taboos and stigmas people have and practice all around the globe but these belief systems often lead to shame and low self-esteem among young girls that not only has lifelong effect but it also influences their future generations.

It is of utmost importance to understand the gravity of this societal perspective when it comes to Menstruation. The psychological and emotional effect it has on the developing minds of young women and girls is lifelong. They are made to believe from a very young age that menstruation is in fact unnatural. It was reported that 28%2 young girls in India have to avoid their schooling during their menstrual cycles due insufficiency in sanitation and proper affordable protection. At times menstruation becomes the reason for the young girls of rural communities in India to conclude their educational endeavors at an early stage.

Through the journey of time, the restrictions and apprehensions around the Menstrual Cycle has become more perceivable to the community. It is astounding that a natural biological process is viewed as something that can’t be sincerely discussed among the community. When the girl child reaches the age of experiencing a beautiful biological evolution which should be proudly accepted, she is made to understand and believe that it should be embraced rather shyly than boldly and bravely. It is presented to her in a way that divulges that she shouldn’t even talk or discuss something biologically natural in the “patriarchal society” as it is deemed unpleasant to the patriarchal perspective.

The gloomy approach towards an intrinsic phenomenon is not only immoral but inhuman as well. It needs to be understood that this biological process is not unnatural. Every human has the right to be able to express themselves and by considering and deeming a natural health process as a taboo simply implies how compromised we as a society and community are. Even though we have globalized and developed in so many different aspects of humankind, we are still far away from achieving the basic human right of accepting ourselves biologically and naturally. Such practices and customs defiles the basic pneuma of human rights. It is high time to rise above this social evil and break this socio-cultural misconception that has turned a natural and scientific phenomenon into a taboo.

¹ h ttps://www.deccanherald.com/specials/taboos-around-menstruation-in-the-21st-century-741613.html

² h ttps://thewire.in/gender/menstriations-taboo-hygiene