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It’s biology stupid!


The festival season has officially kicked off. The best part is that families become complete, estranged relatives become acquaintance again and family members from far afar finally come home to be with their loved ones. My favourite being disagreements subside and love blooms.  

Although the number of festivals lined up in the coming months of October and November are all about bringing family joy and happiness, these festivals are a true testament to testing Nepali women’s biological clock. Hindu women keep constant tabs of their menstrual cycle and my near and dear ones drive me crazy talking about their periods. I have seen women keeping track of menstrual cycles of each and every female family members of age. Their calculations never fail and many resort to advanced med pills (some are forced) to avoid having their scheduled menstrual cycle on the day of these holy festivals. 

Women who forget about menstrual cycles while on a foreign trip would automatically follow the rules once back home. Is it the home that binds us to follow these rules or is it the social pressure? But I know it is not men but rather women who keep tabs and enforce these strict rules. 

I am a mother of a three year old daughter. I always wanted a girl and I want my girl to live in a society that doesn’t discriminate her for the way she functions biologically. I want her to celebrate each and every festival without having to worry about her periods. But what I want and how she perceives the world around her and her personal experiences will be different despite my efforts to protect her. 

Many of us might be silently working on changing this discriminatory attitude towards our own sex but until and unless we don’t change ourselves from within; change will be difficult. The chaupadi practiced in western parts of Nepal does sound foreign to many of us but the fact is educated women living in the cities are no different. I have seen successful women who often restrain their female servants from touching or sitting inside their house but at work are constantly seen preaching about gender equality, inclusiveness and human rights. If only these women practiced what they preached. 

Time and again I fail to understand why women discriminate their own sex and make their lives difficult instead of supporting them. Why would women want to make their menstrual cycle public and welcome discrimination every month? These festivals come once a year and I know all of us are looking forward to it. And I also know that some of us will not be able to enjoy these festivals simply because our body does not fail to function as it was designed to.

It is a part of our bodily function and no GOD will punish us – it is only natural.  I am not asking women to rebel as I know most women take pride in this culture. But I am not comfortable disclosing the dates of my monthly periods because it is nobody’s business. In fact, my monthly periods indicate I am healthy, I was able to give birth to a beautiful girl and I know that life will suck after menopause. So why do we discriminate the very essence of our sex that completes us?
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/09/29/free-the-words/its-biology-stupid/240219.html

Comments

  1. ManiSeptember 25, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    Shradha jee,

    Very impressive. It is more deep rooted with culture so it will take time to change. WaterAid is organising a public event on Menstrual Hygiene tomorrow 26 Oct 2012. You are invited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shradha GiriSeptember 26, 2012 at 1:42 AM

      Thank you Mani ji for taking the time to read. I am glad you agree with my opinion. Changes do take time but initiation is also equally important :) Sorry could not attend Water Aid's program.

      Delete

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