On the pretext of heritage practices, women do not have the same limitations as generations before us. For this I am grateful to be a woman alive today. Time has been changed with advancement of resources, medical science, and technology. We women have pads, tampons, sanitary napkins, health professionals and medications- all of which should be made available to every girl and woman if it is not already. We do not have the same work structure as we used to do thousand years ago. The reasons to prevent us from being in the kitchen, in the temple, and all the health risks back then, are no longer the same issues they once were. Modern medicine and modern technology has allowed women to understand the biological reasons and rationale for our menstrual cycles, and be equipped to handle their health needs.
Then, why do we need to follow these as rules of society? If it really is only about ‘representing and maintaining the cultures and traditions of our ancestors’, then why are some people in charge allowed to pick-and-choose? If we really want to represent and maintain ‘cultures and traditions’, then why don’t we look for the positive underlying intentions from days gone by and bring them forward whilst leaving the negative behind; and maintain the cultures and traditions that supported and nurtured women and tried to support women in the best way they could for the time, and better this with the advancements we have made? It is time we re-think what we have learnt from the ancient civilizations and truly progress in the 21st century. █
Samdarshni | Aspiring journalist and photographer PTW Grassroots Student, Magic Room Project
GOOD LUCK TO SAMMI AND ALL THE OTHER YEAR 12 GIRLS OF THE MAGIC ROOM PROJECT WITH FINAL SCHOOL EXAMS! AT PTW WE'RE PROUD OF THE GIRLS YOU HAVE GROWN UP TO BE SINCE STARTING WITH YOU 7 YEARS AGO
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