We bleed. Yes, we do! So, the world exists. So, isn’t menstruation a dignity in itself? Menstruation is the undeniable cycle of mother nature, yet an untalked topic. Every woman who bleeds holds the power to life, how beautiful is that? Well, it’s beyond beautiful when we think about it casually. But, here comes the problem! Society and its view towards menstruation have shifted the beauty of menstruation and menstruators towards stigma and impurity.  Every woman is gifted with the monthly cycle of menstruation, the gift she can’t deny or reject. So, every woman has the right to live a dignified life with DIGNIFIED MENSTRUATION! 

 

To all the girls, women, and transgender who menstruate, the period isn't your enemy. It's in fact the power to life and pride of sound health. To society, just like you embrace air, water, and life, why not embrace menstruation too? After all, it's also a part of mother nature. Peace.

 

What is dignified menstruation?

In simple words, dignified menstruation is the beautiful state of freedom where every menstruator is free from any form of abuse, taboo, violence, discrimination, and stigma related to menstruation in any phase of her life. Whether she is a girl, woman, or transgender and whether she is on her menstruation or not, she should be able to embrace her menstruation. Menstruation isn’t compiled of single dimensions, multiple sectors are interrelated when it comes to menstruation. Policies, infrastructures, education, social development, awareness, and empowerment. All come together when it’s about dignified menstruation.

  • It’s not just about getting access to sanitary pads during menstruation. Dignified menstruation is about being able to live in the same house with everyone else with the same form of access and respect.
  • It’s about being proud of menstruation, not ashamed. Menstruation is the sound signal of a healthy life and almighty ability to create a new life
  • Open menstruation talk among both men and women, younger and elders, abled and differently-abled is dignified menstruation.
  • The five menstruating days shouldn’t be any different from the rest twenty-five days of the month when it comes to respect, love, and accessibility to basic things or overwhelming opportunities.

 

That monthly blood shed during menstruation is part of life, a part of mother nature. A way of letting the entire humanity know the power she holds. THE POWER OF LIFE. A DIGNITY!

 

Ways towards Dignified Menstruation- 3Ps

 

1. Principally

Policies and principles always remain first when it comes to a public issue. Dignified menstruation isn’t just the topic related to women who menstruate. It’s the core for all genders of the society, all the little girls who shall menstruate in the future, and all the inter and transgenders who have been gifted with menstruation. So, the principles related to dignified menstruation should be created at the policy level. It should be titled as the basic human right for everyone who bleeds. While menstruation is still a stigma for majorities, dignified menstruation should be viewed through the lens of human rights. Yes, the basic human right!

 

2. Practically

Things are easier said than done. But, the verbal words are nothing without the relevant actions, right? All the factors associated with dignified menstruation should be brought into the horizon of practicality. Education, sanitation and hygiene, empowerment, health, and gender equality should be modified in a practical way to energize dignified menstruation. For menstruation to be viewed as dignity, rather than impurity, the support system of all the dimensions is required. Empowerment of women, awareness among men, and elimination of the unrealistic taboos surely make the society to thrive towards the way of dignified menstruation. 

  

3. Psychologically

The base for every problem that arises in a society, is the psychology and view of the people. Menstruation isn’t anything different! Dignified menstruation is something that initiates from the change in the psychology of all the people. Menstruation is never going to be viewed as dignity until and unless society doesn’t stop tagging a girl impure when she bleeds. No woman feels the grace in her period if she herself is ashamed of something mother nature gifted her. How can it be dignity if it’s the reason many has to live apart in isolation risking their innocent lives? Let’s view menstruation as what it actually is, pride and power, not through the glasses dyed with stigma and taboo.

Be it anyone who menstruates and be it any time of her life, dignified menstruation is the basic right. Menstruation is the part of nature's cycle that beholds life and its continuity. So, Menstruation Talks, Dignity First!!!