Menstruation- a normal biological function-goes with stigma and misunderstandings. All over the globe, millions of women and girls are confronted by issues while menstruating because of ignorance, insufficient provisions of sanitary hygiene, or cultural myths. This silencing is highly dangerous for any society and can severely hurt education, health, and dignity as well as equity on social grounds. Addressing menstrual awareness and hygiene is not just a matter of personal health; it's a significant step towards gender equality and empowerment. This blog explores the importance of menstrual awareness, the consequences of neglecting it, the social problems it creates, and the critical role of NGOs in addressing this issue.
The Importance of Menstrual Awareness and Hygiene
1. Health and Well-being
Menstrual hygiene is the foundation stone of women's health. Usage of clean, safe menstrual products and adherence to proper hygiene minimize the risk of infections such as UTIs, RTIs, and even skin irritation. Education of menstruation helps girls and women to understand their body better and make informed decisions regarding their health.
Thereby, unawareness leads to several myths and misconceptions about menstruation, resulting in harmful practices. For example, there are women who use the unclean materials like ash or sand, or even pieces of old rags, in some communities, which often end up severely affecting health.
Proper education along with sanitary products can eliminate such risks, therefore ensuring a healthier life for women.
2. Breaking Taboos and Stigma
In many cultures, menstruation is shrouded in mystery and shame, embarrassing women. This stigma perpetuates silence and misinformation, thus not opening up discussions on menstrual health. Society can challenge these taboos by raising awareness to normalize menstruation as a natural and essential process.
When communities embrace menstrual health education, it fosters an environment where women and girls feel respected and supported. This makes them change a lot toward boosting their confidence and self-esteem as they are enabled to actively participate in education, work, and social activities.
3. Education and Opportunities
Worldwide, many girls drop out of school once they start their menstruation. It is mainly due to the unavailability of sanitary facilities, fear of stigma, or even lack of menstrual products. The education and provision of resources ensure that girls are able to continue their education without interruptions. Schools which are equipped with menstrual-friendly facilities, as well as with an awareness program, support girls by reducing absenteeism and dropping out.
This also includes educating boys and men on menstruation. Educated men become allies that help eliminate stigma and promote women in dealing with their periods with dignity.
4. Economic Empowerment
It means that menstrual hygiene management affects the productivity and involvement of women in their productive lives. Women who cannot get menstruation products miss work, causing loss. The economic empowerment of women would be enhanced by investing in menstrual awareness and providing cheaper hygiene solutions so that women can work without interruption.
Effects of Lack of Menstrual Awareness and Hygiene
Neglecting menstrual health leads to various consequences that influence an individual's life as well as the entire society.
1. Health Risks
Poor menstrual hygiene can easily result in infections, infertility, and worse: toxic shock syndrome. All these risks are high and multiplied in rural low-income communities where access to health care is limited, a poor cycle of health outcomes in their lives.
2. Educational Disparages
Girls who lack access to essential resources for menstrual hygiene miss a significant amount of school while menstruating, resulting in continued losses in learning. Such continued losses lead to high drop-out rates among girls, curbing their educational attainment and future prospects.
3. Social Exclusion
In many societies, the menstrual woman is considered "impure" and is barred from temples, kitchens, or social gatherings. These practices contribute to gender inequality by promoting exclusionism and discriminations and leave women alone in what was once considered a normal time of life.
4. Economic Effects
Women experience lost work days due to some challenge with menstruation. Women and their families suffer these financial losses. They create perpetual cycles of poverty, more so in poverty-stricken places since every working day counts as a survival measure.
Social Problems Associated with Menstruation Taboos
1. Cultural Prohibitions and Myths
Many cultures view menstruation with myths and misconceptions. The societies will consider a menstruating woman to be "unclean" and engage in practices that isolate and debase her. In some areas, women are kept in menstrual huts, putting them at risk of serious health problems, even fatal conditions.
2. Gender Inequality
The stigma around menstruation reinforces gender inequality by limiting women’s mobility, opportunities, and participation in society. The silence surrounding this issue denies women the dignity and respect they deserve, perpetuating systemic discrimination.
3. Psychological Impacts
Shame and secrecy around menstruation can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression among girls and women. The lack of open conversations about menstruation contributes to feelings of inadequacy and alienation.
4. Barriers to Policy and Advocacy:
The stigma around menstruation prevents the topic from being brought to the policy level. Governments and institutions may fail to include menstrual health in the public health agenda, which then results in less funding and support for menstrual hygiene projects.
Role of NGOs in Promoting Menstrual Awareness and Hygiene
NGOs play a very significant role in breaking the silence on menstruation and promoting menstrual health through education, advocacy, and providing direct support to the needy communities.
1. Awareness Campaigns
NGOs are often at the forefront of campaigns that help to break the myths and stigma surrounding menstruation. These campaigns involve different mediums, such as schools, community centers, and social media, to make people aware of menstrual health. By making conversations about menstruation a norm, NGOs create an open and non-judgmental space.
2. Access to Menstrual Products
Many NGOs provide affordable or free menstrual products to underprivileged communities. They also promote sustainable options such as reusable pads and menstrual cups, which address both affordability and environmental concerns. This way, women and girls can manage their periods with dignity and comfort.
3. Advocating for Policy Change
NGOs advocate for policies that give priority to menstrual health, such as tax exemptions on menstrual products, funding for school-based hygiene programs, and improved sanitation facilities. They influence governments and institutions to take action on this important issue.
4. Capacity Building
NGOs empower local communities through training programs to produce and distribute menstrual hygiene products. This addresses both the immediate need for supplies and creates livelihood opportunities for women, hence economic independence.
5. School and Community Outreach
NGOs collaborate with schools in order to incorporate menstrual health education in school curriculums. They also work through engaging community leaders and influencers, challenging cultural taboos, and promoting acceptance of menstruation as a natural process.
Success Stories and Impact
Several NGOs have made some excellent strides in addressing menstrual health and hygiene:
i) The Pad Project: This NGO received international exposure through the Oscar-winning film Period. End of Sentence. The documentary discussed the provision of low-cost sanitary pads and the breaking of taboos in rural India.
ii)Days for Girls: This NGO has distributed sustainable menstrual hygiene kits and education across more than 140 countries, empowering millions of women and girls.
iii) WaterAid: WaterAid tackles the infrastructural issues of menstruation management, especially in schools and remote areas, by improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
These examples illustrate how targeted interventions can transform lives, fostering health, dignity, and equality.
The Way Forward
Addressing menstrual awareness and hygiene is a collective effort by governments, NGOs, communities, and individuals. Here's how we can create a future where menstruation is managed with dignity:
1. Policy Integration: Governments should ensure that menstrual health is integrated into public health policies and hygiene initiatives are funded and supported.
2. Education for All: Menstrual health education should be incorporated into the school curriculum for both girls and boys.
3. Access to Products: All, especially in low-income communities, should have access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products.
4. Overcoming Taboos: Media, influencers, and community leaders need to break the stigma by normalizing conversations on menstruation.
5. Involvement of Men: Engaging men and boys as allies can help remove stigma and create a conducive environment for women and girls.
Menstrual awareness and hygiene are fundamental aspects of women's health, dignity, and empowerment. Breaking the silence around menstruation is a crucial step towards attaining gender equality and social justice. By addressing the consequence of neglecting menstrual health and resolving social problems associated with it, we can create a world in which women and girls are thriving. It calls for NGOs, governments, and communities to come together in order to make menstruation no longer be a source of shame but something symbolizing strength and resilience.
WRITTEN BY : SWAPNANJALI CHOUDHURY
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