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Periods – Not Taboo



Is it really wrong? 

Is it a sin?

Every adult is aware of menstruation, yet many still misunderstand what it actually is. What myths surround the menstrual cycle? And why is it seen as something that weakens women?

In our country, the onset of puberty in girls is often celebrated with great enthusiasm. On the surface, it appears to be a joyful event, but in reality, it marks the beginning of a lifetime of restrictions. I’ve seen young girls who once played freely with their friends suddenly disappear from public spaces after reaching puberty. That freedom is quietly taken away.

Even today, menstruating women are barred from entering temples. But the discrimination doesn’t end there. In many homes, women on their period are still not allowed to touch certain things or sleep in a bed; they are made to sleep on the floor, isolated.

As a child, I remember my mother whispering to my father to buy sanitary napkins. She said it so softly it was barely audible, yet he understood. Maybe that’s why the brand is called "Whisper" – because society has turned menstruation into something shameful and secretive. But why should we be afraid to talk about it openly? It’s a natural biological process. Still, shopkeepers wrap napkins in newspaper or black plastic bags, as if hiding something shameful.

Shockingly, around 60–70% of Indian women still don’t use sanitary napkins. Many use cloth instead, and in extreme poverty, some resort to using sand, old rags, or even ashes, believing that using pads is wrong or sinful. These practices, if we look closely, are designed to suppress and control women.


Understanding menstruation shouldn’t be limited to women alone. Men, especially in rural areas, often hold dangerous misconceptions about the female body. A tragic incident occurred recently when a 12-year-old girl in India was killed by her own brother, who mistook period blood for evidence of sexual activity. In reality, she had just started menstruating.

This is why sex education and awareness about menstrual health are crucial not just for women, but for everyone in our society.

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