15 minute read

Changing the Cycle

The Great Divide

FEATURE

Menstruation has long been a taboo topic in many Asian nations. But a handful of advocates are working to change the conversation.

By Rhea Mogul

In many parts of the world, periods are simply a fact of life. But in some countries, menstruation takes a deeper toll, both physically and psychologically. This is particularly true in Southeast Asia, where menstruation is shrouded in layers of shame and stigma.

In the patriarchal society of Indonesia, where religious and cultural mysticism still guide many cultural norms, period blood is synonymous with guilt and exclusion. In India, life often comes to a halt for many girls and women during their cycle, as they are banned from places of worship, excluded from sports, and cut off from family interactions.

Even in more developed cities, like Hong Kong, menstruation remains taboo, as lingering traditional values make it hard for young women to have open conversations about their bodies and sexuality, igniting a sense of mortification when discussing their monthly cycle.

In the face of long-held misconceptions and religious dogma, activists are working to normalise this biological process for the next generation.

'CHUM' IN INDIA

Growing up, Nazira Begum felt trepidation as she approached the first day of her cycle every month. While she had her chum – a local word for menstruation – Begum was not permitted to enter the kitchen, touch food, conduct pooja (worship), or interact with family.

“My sister-in-law once slapped me as I entered the kitchen,” she recounts. “I knew not to speak about my periods, but I didnʼt know I couldnʼt go into the kitchen.”

A former hospital housekeeping supervisor, Begum is from Hebbal Kempapura, a small town near Bangalore, the capital of Indiaʼs southern Karnataka state. At 45, she is still visibly uncomfortable when talking about menstruation. For most of her life, she has been taught to hide it.

“I did not know much about my own physical anatomy, or the different types of discharges women have,” Begum says of ʻdiscoveringʼ she had menstruated for the first time. “But I knew that period blood was impure.” In India, such perceptions are commonplace. According to 2016 research by UNICEFʼs Menstrual Hygiene and Management (MHM) programme, 66 per cent of Indian girls arenʼt aware of menstruation before their first period.

My sister-in-law once slapped me as I entered the kitchen. I knew not to speak about my periods, but I didnʼt know I couldnʼt go into the kitchen. - Begum

Once they start menstruating, many young women often miss school for the entirety of their cycle, due to a dearth of sanitary pads, inadequate sanitation, and lack of separate female toilets. Assuming a young woman has her period for five days per month, that puts her behind her male classmates by 60 school days annually.

The taboo around the subject also affects womenʼs physical health. Lack of awareness about female biology can lead to poor standards of personal hygiene, causing urinary tract, yeast and fungal infections and, in some cases, infertility. According to a 2016 survey conducted by the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, 78 per cent of girls in government-run schools do not have access to running water, increasing their risk of exposure to diseases such as Hepatitis B.

And then thereʼs the psychological burden. Last year, a 12-year-old girl from the southern state of Tamil Nadu made international headlines for jumping to her death after a teacher shamed her for having a period stain on her uniform.

Some young women decide to set their education aside altogether. A 2015 report by Indian philanthropic foundation Dasra, found that 23 per cent of girls drop out of school permanently when they reach puberty. Parents are often enablers: periods are considered a sign of maturity for girls, which means theyʼre ready for marriage.

In rural India, girls are traditionally seen as a burden to their familyʼs finances because of their perceived weakness. Additionally, many consider a womanʼs role to be purely that of child-bearer and homemaker. Hence, as soon as they reach puberty, girls are married off as soon as possible.

With school out of the picture, many girls become more susceptible to accepting low-paid and sometimes dangerous work, such as prostitution. Once they enter womanhood, the challenges compound further. In many parts of the country, menstruating women are prohibited from performing household chores. They are told theyʼre dirty, even toxic.

Religion plays a pivotal role in dictating these attitudes. Many Hindu priests believe period blood is impure, a view that has been passed down for generations. At home, most families regularly worship statues of Hindu deities, and it is considered sacrilegious for menstruating women to co-exist with these sacred gods.

**Women living in India's slums have weekly meetings, regular health checkups, and maintain a period calendar with help from Sukhibhava**

In many states, women are ʻbanishedʼ to cold and unhygienic huts during their periods – a custom thatʼs also been practiced in neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Known locally as gaokars, these precarious structures can be smaller than a closet, lack clean toilets, kitchens, electricity and proper beds. Female villagers wait for the end of their cycle in these isolated confines, exposed to often unforgiving climates.

In a society as patriarchal as Indiaʼs, these mindsets and practices have been perpetuated for centuries. But shifts are taking place, albeit slowly, as NGOs and advocates strive to make a lasting social impact.

“Menstruation is fundamentally considered an impure process,” says Dilip Pattubala, founder of Sukhibhava, a Bangalore-based social enterprise that educates marginalised women and adolescent girls from local communities about menstruation and hygiene.

“We need to educate young girls and women about basic [biology] and create a safe space for them to imbibe a sense of self-confidence to start talking about menstruation openly,” says Pattubala. “We believe that if we start talking about periods just like any other bodily process, we could contribute to solving the problem to a great extent.”

We need to educate young girls and women about basic [biology] and create a safe space for them to imbibe a sense of self-confidence to start talking about menstruation openly. - Pattubala

Sukhibhava has expanded this conversation to men, too, teaching them to support women and understand their basic needs. “The young boys and men we have worked with so far have been incredibly responsive to our training,” says Pattubala. “But the challenge lies in convincing them to play an active role in eradicating the stigma about menstruation.”

The NGO runs year-long educational programmes called Period Fellowships, where participants learn about various menstrual concepts like hygiene, PMS and superstitions. The NGO also helps women develop leadership skills to propagate their knowledge.

The fellowship includes a micro-entrepreneurial initiative that allows local women to become self employed. For example, Sukhibhava will support women interested in starting a small business by providing means to sell menstrual products. Not only does this model enable women to become more self sufficient, but it also extends the dialogue of menstrual hygiene across communities, creating a sense of sharing, rather than shame.

Begum, who was once mistreated for entering the kitchen during her cycle, has been working with the NGO as a micro-entrepreneur. “Sukhibhava has made me realise these myths are man-made, ancient beliefs that should be challenged,” she says. “Now I openly talk about periods with everyone and I feel proud because I am sharing this awareness with people who donʼt have access to education.”

Mani Mozhi, 23, from Vinobha Nagar, a slum just outside Bangalore, has also been working with Sukhibhava as a micro-entrepreneur since 2014, selling pads to women in low-income communities like her own. The former bank clerk now educates other women about their period, encouraging them to challenge commonly held beliefs.

“Before I worked with Sukhibhava, I never used to do ʻpoojaʼ when I was on my period due to societal norms,” she says. Now, Mozhi freely enters the kitchen and temple, and feels confident in her own body. “I know these restrictions are just myths and we shouldnʼt blindly follow them.”

Like Sukhibhava, other organisations are also working to bring menstrual health and hygiene to women across India. Eco Femme, based in Auroville, a small town in southeastern of India, provides education to women and girls about menstruation, as well as feminine hygiene products to promote health and dignity. It also manufactures reusable cloth pads as eco-friendly alternatives. Meanwhile, Delhi-based NGO Sacchi Saheli conducts regular sessions on menstrual awareness in various slums in the city. Their campaign, Break the Bloody Taboo, aims to deconstruct common myths about menstruation amongst rural communities.

There has also been some progress at the national level, albeit with mixed reactions. Last year, Mumbaibased digital media company Culture Machine introduced a “First Day of Period Leave,” allowing women one day of paid menstrual leave should they need it. In a YouTube video announcing the new policy, Devleena S Majumdar, Culture Machineʼs head of human resources, said: “We felt it was time we faced reality. This is not an embarrassment; this is a part of life.”

The concept of menstrual leave, which has also been adopted by companies in Japan as early as 1947, South Korea in 2004, and Taiwan in 2013, could be considered a positive step towards achieving greater gender equality in the workplace.

But in India, the idea has received a fair amount of backlash. Ten out of 16 women invited to speak about the matter on local news channel, The News Minute, said menstrual leave would be detrimental to the advancement of women in the workplace. Prominent Indian journalist Barkha Dutt called it a “silly idea,” stating that the concept would be used to ban women from combat roles and police forces.

Although the debate has caused a philosophical divide, such conversations have put menstruation pain on the political agenda. In July of this year, India scrapped its controversial 12 per cent tax on all feminine hygiene products, marking a huge victory for womenʼs rights champions.

In another landmark case this September, Indiaʼs Supreme Court ruled against a ban on women of menstruating age from entering Sabarimala temple, a prominent Hindu temple in the southern state of Kerala, validating womenʼs right to worship.

The situation isnʼt perfect: girls continue to face embarrassment during their cycles and it will take years – and more likely generations – to dispel taboos. But anecdotally, activists believe that Indian women are entering a new chapter, empowered to challenge their familyʼs long withstanding beliefs.

“Itʼs hard to spread awareness and education amongst local communities,” says Begum. “But even if it is one out of 50 women who takes away something positive, we feel good about the work we are doing.”

Female students on their menstrual cycle (left) watch their peers perform afternoon prayers at Pondok Kebon Jambu Al-Islamy.According to Islamic tradition, menstruating women are not permitted to perform daily prayers

'DATANG BULAN' IN INDONESIA

“When I got my first period, I was unaware that I was bleeding. My mother saw that my crotch was covered in blood. ʻWhat is that?ʼ she screamed at me. She was furious. [To her], period blood needed to be hidden.” Tiar Simorangkir is a 38-year-old documentary filmmaker and poet from Batak, a small village in north Sumatra, Indonesia. One of eight siblings, she was taught to hide her datang bulan (a local euphemism for menstruation).

“ʼDonʼt let your father or brothers see it!ʼ my mother yelled. I was scared. I didnʼt know what the blood was – we were never taught about menstruation.”

Traumatic scenes from Simorangkirʼs childhood remain a source of distress. “If the menstrual blood seeped through our clothing at school, we would get bullied to no end,” says Simorangkir. “ʻYouʼre tembus, youʼre tembus!ʼ [meaning something that has a hole] the boys would scream. I didnʼt understand why they said that, but I remember feeling ashamed.”

Like India, Indonesia is home to an amalgamation of different cultures and religions, coexisting in a historically patriarchal society. And, just like India, periods have long been considered a taboo topic.

But in recent years, some independent ventures and individuals have taken aim at traditional mentalities. One of them is Plan International, an independent development and humanitarian organisation that works to advance childrenʼs rights and equality for girls.

Outside the home, one of the biggest challenges for young women occurs at school. “Many local schools have just one or two toilets, not separated by gender. The toilets donʼt have locks either, discouraging young girls with their periods to go inside,” she says. As a result, they donʼt change their menstrual pads, giving rise to infections and diseases.

**From a strict religious family in Indonesia, Lies Marcoes is a feminist Muslim who presents an alternate interpretation of Islamic teachings**

Earlier this year, Plan International conducted a smallscale survey among 31 elementary school students and 44 junior high students from Jakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara. According to the responses, 39 per cent of girls in these areas have been mocked by friends during menstruation, 63 per cent of parents have never provided information to their children regarding menstruation, and 33 per cent of elementary school and junior high school students donʼt have separate bathrooms. Silvi Deviana works for Plan International in five schools across Ende, a city in the southernmost province of Indonesia. As part of a global initiative by the NGO, Devianaʼs programme informs students, parents and teachers about menstrual hygiene management and encourages open discussion. “The issue of menstrual hygiene management has been promoted heavily across the world. Itʼs important to teach girls and boys about menstruation, and to normalise it,” she says.

In adulthood, dated myths and misconceptions shroud menstruation in shame. For example, many women wash used menstrual pads before disposing of them to purge ʻimpurities.ʼ Then thereʼs the ubiquitous idea that women shouldnʼt wash their hair while menstruating. Though the reasoning is unclear, this notion is thought to originate centuries ago, when women felt shame or embarrassment when bathing communally in rivers and lakes.

Different interpretations of menstruation – many of which draw from the teachings of Islam, worshipped by 87.2 per cent of Indonesiaʼs population – have further triggered negative social norms and ideas around periods.

Ancient and modern scriptures play a key role in that respect. “Islam is becoming more conservative in Indonesia, and most of its traditions and attitudes are based on scriptures,” says Indonesian Muslim feminist activist Lies Marcoes. “The tendency to approach religion from a scriptural perspective causes menstruation to become an issue for women, because it becomes a source of restriction.”

For instance, many women are barred from entering mosques during their cycle. Some temples even have signs forbidding women from entering altogether. Read by many, scriptures are seen as spelling an absolute truth. In reality, they propagate false perceptions.

**Joyce Fung, founder of MenstruAction**

The writings of Imam Shafi'i, an Arab Muslim theologian and one of the four Imams (a Muslim leader that succeeded the prophet Muhammed), are a case in point. They prohibit a man from touching a menstruating woman until she is “clean”. The writings also describe, in detail, the duration each cycle should be, as well as the amount of blood that should flow from a womanʼs vagina.

“Even though medical knowledge has debunked the ideas put forward in that writing, many – including children – still study it today. It becomes something of a paradox. This dogma – one that is incompatible with modern medicine – us the problem today,” says Marcoes.

According to activists, change is hard to come by in Indonesia – not only due to religion, but also the challenges of working with the government. “To get the [governmentʼs] four ministries to sit down together [to discuss womenʼs rights] is quite difficult. Another thing is, letʼs say [Plan International] lobbied a section head in a government; theyʼd suddenly get transferred to another department or area, and we have to start over again,” Deviana says, dejected from many years of trying to garner support from a moving target.

Plan International isnʼt alone in its efforts. UNICEF Indonesia also holds workshops and distributes information in local communities in a bid to normalise menstruation and encourage safe hygiene practices. They educate children about menstrual hygiene using a UNICEFdesigned comic book.

Despite this slow progress, public shame and taboos, perceptions are changing. “[Now] When I think about menstruation, I see it as completely normal,” says Simorangkir, who felt shame for many years. “After I graduated from university, moved to Jakarta, and read a lot of literature, I understood that menstruation is not something to feel ashamed about.”

Now, through her films, poetry and activism, Simorangkir is emboldened to effect change within her community, and stand up for girls who suffer in silence.

HONG KONG'S BIG AUNTIE

“At my grandfatherʼs funeral, I was on my period, which meant I wasnʼt allowed to burn any offerings for him,” says Ginny Wong, a 30-year-old journalist from Hong Kong. “But [performing the rites] was important to me. It made me feel that, in some way, I was making the afterlife better for my grandfather.”

Wong says her family isnʼt usually quite so conservative, so the news came as a surprise. “I was never explicitly told that I couldnʼt go to the temple when I had my dai yee ma (a euphemism for periods, meaning ʻbig auntieʼ), however, [the funeral rites] did matter to them.”

Wong was ultimately allowed to take part in her grandfatherʼs funeral, but only after her aunt bought a string bracelet that was blessed by a priest, which Wong wore during the rituals.

“Iʼm not quite sure why the bracelet circumvented my period,” she says. “Perhaps it makes the period invisible to the spirits...”

Despite being economically and socially more advanced than most Asian nations, Hong Kong, too, has a hard time grappling with periods. “There is a huge taboo surrounding menstruation in Hong Kong, but it is [usually] an invisible one,” says Joyce Fung, founder of MenstruAction. First started on Facebook in 2016, the platform debunks commonly held myths and encourages open conversations about menstruation.

**Michelle Cheng, programme manager of MenstruAction**

“Unlike in some parts of India, Indonesia or Nepal, women arenʼt banished from their houses and asked to live in isolation. But conversations surrounding menstruation in Hong Kong are still [uncommon],” Fung says.

Fung, who is now a Sociology mastersʼ student at the University of Hong Kong, says her parents reacted strongly to the decision. “They didnʼt want to see my reusable cloth pads around the house, or in the washing machine, even though I cleaned them thoroughlybeforehand.”

The 23-year-old started the project during her final year of university, while living with her parents. “I was switching from disposable to reusable pads to be ecofriendlier, when I realised how conservative Chinese society is about anything that they're unfamiliar with, like tampons.”

She started MenstruAction to “challenge the menstrual status quo of shame, silence and secrecy” in the city. Now she runs it with two classmates, Michelle Cheng and Miranda Chu. According to Chinese traditions, women are not supposed to visit temples when they have their periods. They also cannot burn incense because they are “dirty and impure” – a belief stemming from Taoism, a Chinese philosophical tradition that considers anything discharged from our bodies to be unclean. That, of course, includes periods.

In just two years, MenstruAction has expanded its reach to host offline events and discussions, supported in part by funding from the University of Hong Kong. Their mission has grown in scope, too. In October of this year, the group hosted an event discussing menstruation within the transgender community.

**First started on Facebook in 2016, MenstruAction has expanded its reach to host offline events and discussions**

In Fungʼs experience working with young women, limited sex education in Hong Kongʼs academic curricula is a major culprit in fostering such attitudes. “I was not taught about menstruation in school,” she says. “Once, a pad company came in to the classes, distributed these giant pads, and told us to use them when we bled. It felt like more of a marketing campaign than a sex-ed talk.”

In Hong Kong, sex education varies depending in the school. A 2012 government survey found that 72 per cent of 134 surveyed schools in Hong Kong provided students with information on HIV/AIDS or sex during the 2011-2012 academic year. About 67 per cent of the remaining schools invited NGOs to provide related programmes.

Additionally, amongst the schools surveyed, 66 per cent of teachers had received training on HIV/AIDS and sex, provided by either the Education Bureau, Department of Health, NGOs, or online materials.

Though the numbers indicate that more than half of Hong Kongʼs students would have received some form of sex education as of 2012, Fung questions the quality of those classes. “Many university students – especially Asian students – who attend our talks are not familiar with their own bodies,” Fung says. “Some women donʼt know that they have three holes... and which one is the vagina."

Some women donʼt know that they have three holes... and which one is the vagina. - Fung

With incomplete sex education, girls also rarely learn about alternative products aside from disposable pads. “Tampons aren't popular in Chinese culture, because people fear they could take your virginity by tearing your hymen,” says Chu. This old wivesʼ tale is a myth that has been passed down generations.

Speaking about menstruation with family members is also uncommon. Parents often feel itʼs unnecessary to broach the subject, which contributes to a perceived sense of shame around sex and reproductive health.

Fung has challenged this dynamic by pushing for open discussions within her own family. “I speak to my dad about reusable pads, menstrual cups and period pain,” Fung says. “He knows when Iʼve got cramps, and heʼs very understanding. As a father with daughters, you must be able to speak to them about these things. It must be normalised.”

Additional reporting by Atas Nadina Habsjah

Learn more: sukhibhava.org.in | fb.com/menstruAction | plan-international.org

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Ariana #01

by Ariana Life