The literary work of Rokeya Sakhawat Begum, namely “Sultana’s Dream[1],” can be interpreted as a utopian endeavour aimed at conceptualizing a feminist society referred to as “Ladyland.” This envisioned civilization strives to eliminate patriarchal oppression and dismantle gender binaries, thereby transcending the detrimental effects that gender imposes on individuals’ lives. This paper focuses on the thesis statement concerning the discriminatory treatment of women in India and other regions during their menstrual cycle. The analysis draws upon Gloria Steinem’s article titled “If Men Could Menstruate”[2] to support the argument.
According to WASH United, there is currently a significant population of 500 million women and girls who face a lack of necessary resources to effectively manage their menstrual cycles in a manner that is both clean and dignified.[3] Moreover, as per the analysis of scholars, menstruating women are still perceived as “contaminated and impure” in certain nations, notably India. Consequently, they are often subjected to restrictions and prohibitions, such as refraining from handling food or engaging in cleaning tasks, as well as being excluded from religious, cultural, and communal practices. Despite the progress made in social interactions and education inside our nation, prevailing societal messages continue to depict menstruation as a perilous and socially disadvantageous phenomenon for women. Women who experience menstruation encounter substantial forms of discrimination. In India, there has been a historical perception of periods as unclean and prohibited. Individuals belonging to this particular group are frequently subjected to social and religious exclusion, encountering restrictions in attending various events, being denied admittance to temples and shrines, and even facing limitations in accessing cooking facilities. Advocates argue that the campaign serves to underscore the infrequent occurrence of parents providing their children with education regarding inevitable circumstances. Moreover, the absence of adequate readiness engenders superfluous apprehension and concern.
It is uncommon to see a girl actively seeking aid when experiencing physical or emotional distress because of menstruation because young girls grow up learning to endure pain and worry. Early in life, people are brainwashed to believe that menstruation is a stigmatized condition that is frequently referred to as a “curse” or a “handicap.” Without critical analysis, the prevalent idea that female gender is necessarily linked to biological inferiority has gained widespread acceptance. Unfortunately, these viewpoints still have an impact on modern culture. However, as social media usage has increased in recent years, women have begun to discuss and share their menstrual-related experiences more freely. The scope of this freedom, however, is sometimes questioned because people who choose to share their own narratives frequently face limits, while those who engage in online harassment and demeaning behaviour toward women frequently escape punishment. Numerous studies have found that many women have unfavourable opinions about menstruation and consider it to be filthy. Menstruating women thus frequently experience limits and social exclusion from social and cultural gatherings.
According to my own observations, adolescent females frequently avoid going to schools or other public places when they are menstruating because there isn’t enough privacy for personal hygiene routines and there aren’t many safe and hygienic restroom facilities, including separate sanitation amenities, available. Living in a tier-2 city has given me first-hand knowledge of the expensive price and restricted selection of sanitary hygiene goods, especially for those in need or in difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, government measures frequently fall short of appropriately addressing these important issues. A practice that can lead to leakage and infection and jeopardize the general health of vulnerable women is the use of makeshift and unsanitary materials.
According to Hindu beliefs, menstruation is associated with notions of impurity and uncleanliness in relation to women. Diverse limitations are imposed in accordance with the geographical and sectarian variations within Hinduism. Limitations may encompass the inability to engage in culinary activities or get water, the prohibition of involvement in sexual activities, or the imposition of residing in unhygienic and perilous menstruation huts. The limitations imposed upon females have a discernible influence on their daily routines for a duration of around 12 weeks annually. Numerous women opt to delay their entry into the workforce or pursuit of further education as a means of creating a social disconnect. This phenomenon has implications for both the economic and social liberties of individuals. Upon the onset of menstruation, over 23 million females discontinue their education.
According to the perspective put forth by Ashley Montagu, a highly regarded anthropologist of British-American descent, it is posited that males may experience a feeling of envy towards women owing to their distinct capacity for reproductive functions, such as childbirth, as well as their ability to undergo menstruation. The biological function of menstruation has traditionally been viewed as a limitation imposed on individuals of the male sex due to their intrinsic lack of this capacity. The author posits that the conversion of these aptitudes into drawbacks might engender sentiments of inadequacy among persons affected by them, while those who lack such impairments may cultivate a sense of superiority[4].
The satirical article titled “If Men Could Menstruate,” authored by Gloria Steinem, employs a role reversal technique to illustrate how a biological process related to women’s bodies, which is commonly viewed negatively and subject to social stigma, can be reimagined as a source of pleasure and admiration if it were associated with men’s bodies. The author drew a parallel between the term ‘men’ and the ‘white minority’ of the global population, who perceive their white skin as a source of pride. However, it is important to note that this perception overlooks the fact that white skin renders individuals more vulnerable to UV radiation and the development of wrinkles. In a similar vein, male individuals have constructed comprehensive societal structures based on the presumption that women inherently experience penis-envy. However, employing a comparable line of reasoning, the vulnerability associated with possessing such an externally visible organ renders males as susceptible, while the capacity for childbirth renders womb-envy at least as plausible. The author used sarcasm when giving the hypothetical scenario of a gender role reversal, wherein men possess the ability to menstruate while women do not. The conclusion is evident – menstruation would transform into a desirable and esteemed masculine occurrence. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to elucidate the gender-based discrimination experienced by women and the power dynamics that favour males, using the hypothetical scenario of men experiencing menstruation as an illustrative example.
In summary, it is worth noting that motion pictures hold significant influence and enjoy widespread popularity across various cultural contexts as a prominent kind of visual communication. Films serve as a medium through which visual imagery and written narratives are animated, thereby facilitating their dissemination to diverse and extensive audiences. Consequently, the medium of films and movies can assume a significant role in addressing and mitigating societal biases and discrimination pertaining to women’s experiences with menstruation. To illustrate the dissemination of menstrual taboo messages in our culture via visual mass media, it is argued that the influence of mass media on the public sphere and audiences, as well as the visibility and publicity of these messages and images, serve to reinforce and shape the behaviour of individual citizens.
Akshat Mittal is an undergraduate student at OP Jindal Global University
[1] “Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, Sultana’s Dream, The Indian Ladies’ Magazine, Madras, 1905.”
[2] Gloria Steinem, If Men Could Menstruate, Women’s Reproductive Health, ISSN: 2329-3691 (30 July, 2019).
[3] UN. “Removing the Shame and Stigma from Menstruation.” OHCHR, 8 July 2022, www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2022/07/removing-shame-and-stigma-menstruation#:~:text=At%20this%20very%20moment%2C%20500,menstrual%20hygiene%20and%20human%20rights.
[4] “Ashley Montagu, The Natural Superiority of Women (New York: Collier, 1952) 36.”
