Indians claim to be modern and open – minded, but when it comes to discussing about menstruation publicly, most of us are reluctant. There are so many taboos in Indian society that do not let it prosper. Myths and practices related to menstruation top this list. Menstruation is natural, but Indian women are not allowed to discuss it! If a girl uses the word “period” then she is judged by everybody, as it is apparently not right to discuss about hormonal activities especially in front of males! We, as a society, need to understand that without menstruation, there would be no child-birth. Menstrual taboos lead women to be the subject of social exclusion, ruling them out of contributing in religious activities and making them an outcast. Some of these myths are discussed below:
Myth 1: Bathing or washing your hair during a period will increase your flow
Fact: This is an old one and it is not true. It was believed that bathing will increase or slow your menstrual flow. But there is nothing like that. While having your periods maintaining hygiene is the most important thing, so you should want to bathe even more to feel fresh and clean!
Myth 2: It is a sin for a woman to visit a place of worship while she is on her period
Fact: Certain religions believe that women are unclean and impure during their periods, and so they are banned from entering temples. This is downright discrimination! Menstruation is a normal and healthy function of every woman’s reproductive life, but women are effectively being banned from taking part in everyday and social life because of how their bodies function!
Myth 3: A menstruating woman cannot enter the kitchen
Fact: The joint family culture is declining so is this practice. However, there are many families that still believe in this myth. Even if women are allowed to enter the kitchen, they cannot touch anything, especially water and food.
Myth 4: A woman on her periods should not touch a jar of pickles
Fact: Pickle is perhaps the most favorite food item among Indians! This practice forbids menstruating women from touching the pickle jar as their touch would ruin it, and all the preservatives would get affected by their touch, causing the pickle to rot. However, this is untrue, as having your period does not make you dirty / unclean, and you are at no risk of spoiling any food items by touching them.
Myth 5: You can’t get pregnant during your period
Fact: While uncommon, there is always a chance! Your ovulation and menstrual cycle can be unpredictable, and ovulation can even happen before, during, or after the bleeding phase, especially if your period is irregular.
Myth 6: When you have your period, you need to avoid exercise or strenuous activity
Fact: If you feel like exercising, there’s no reason why you should not, as exercise is almost always good for you! It is actually a great way of controlling pre – menstrual syndrome (PMS) and alleviating cramps, because it increases the supply of oxygen to the muscles.
Though now proven wrong by science, these beliefs are still practiced in current society by so-called modern communities, especially in India. These myths put forward that menstruation is a sickness or a nuisance, and that a female’s body is contaminated when she is going through her monthly period. It directs us to the customs of untouchability and out – casting menstruating women from normal, healthy society. Hence, it is high time we get rid of these taboos soon!
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