Menstruation: The forbidden topic of forbidden women

Fahmi Ela

We all are familiar with menstruation. Roughly half of the female population, around 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age. Yet, as normal as it is, menstruation is stigmatized around the world. Even in 2021, there are hundred taboos about menstruation.

When I came in Norway, I went to a grocery and found a corner for female hygiene products. Of course, it was normal to all. I stood in front of these products and thought about my past experiences!

From where I have come from, according to a research, still 80% women and girls do not use sanitary napkin. High price, lack of awareness and taboos are the main reasons. Rather they use unhygienic cloths, wash it every month and reuse it. Even they dry these under other cloths as if period cloths are shameful. For this unhygienic method, many women and girls face gynaecological problems.

Women still feel shy to buy pads from shops which are almost run by men. The shopkeepers pack it in a thick bag so that no one can see it. When I was a teenage girl, my mother bought pads for me and I had to hide these from the male members of my family. Even when I went to shop to buy sanitary napkin, many times I found the shopkeeper had an indicative insensitive smile on their face.

Before patriarchy devoured the society, the menstruation was regarded as a power and holiness of women, and now It is a religious and cultural taboo!

I believe, if society locks up women, it is easy to restrain them from forming agency. The taboos of menstruation are the the shackles of patriarchy to hold back women to gain their own freedom and choice.

Let’s break it!

[This article written by Fahmi Ela was previously published in Norwegian language  in a Magazine’s `300 words article’ category in Norway. Feminist Factor publishes this in English.]