By Varsha Seshadri
What is menstruation?
Menstruation is the first part of the monthly cycle of people with uteruses as they shed their uterine lining. This begins in the rise of puberty and is a part of the reproductive system. Menstruation can make someone who has a period (who menstruates) suffer due to hormone-related issues such as mood swings, loss of appetite, nausea, or bloating. Each period can vary in length but is usually from 3 to 7 days. It’s important to recognize that a period is different for every person.
Menstrual Customs around the World
The beginning of a period in young girls is often marked as a girl “becoming a woman”, hence, celebrations are conducted in various parts around the world. This is what it looks like in different countries:
In Brazil, people from the Amazonian Tikuna tribe spend three months to a year in a private room. This is known as “pelazon” and is commonly associated with
positivity and awareness of oneself and the culture. When one is finished with
this period, she will usually be welcomed with a party from the community.
In Fiji, a girl will commonly be welcomed with a special mat and on the ‘tunundra’ (fourth day of the period) families will often prepare a feast to celebrate.
In some South Indian communities, there will commonly be a half-sari ceremony where the girl will wear a half-sari (consisting of a blouse, a skirt, and a ‘dhavani’ to be worn like a sari). This ceremony is commonly known as ‘Ritu Kala Samskara’.
In North America, the native Americans will have a Sunset Ceremony, To them,
this transformation from child to adult is crucial, so there will be symbolic
representation of their traditional and community values.
The Menstrual Health Taboo
However, after the first period, menstruation is commonly associated with being impure in various cultures. In India, for example, a woman can be restricted from touching food, clothes, or crops when on her period. And, in Bolivia, girls are falsely told that their period blood can cause serious illnesses like cancer!
More than that, Maureen C. McHugh defines the term “menstrual moaning” as a
negative communication and connotation towards periods and period talk. Many women feel uncomfortable talking about periods as this has been taught and is the cultural norms.
Connection to Mental Health
The shame surrounding periods often leads a woman to isolation. In addition, the lack of feminine hygiene products (partially attributed to taboos) can be psychologically stressful. This can lead to shame and be associated with the depression many people with uteruses face. As they become victim to these cultural stigmas, their mental health is severely impaired.
References
National Institute of Medicine. (n.d.). Chapter 32 Menstrual shame: Exploring the role of 'menstrual moaning'. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from
Bäuerle, A., & Haug, H. J. (2023). Period poverty and mental health of menstruators during COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons and implications for the future. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 4. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from
Care International. (n.d.). The period taboo: A universal problem. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.care-international.org/stories/period-taboo-universal-problem
Qasim, A. (2019, October 19). How do people around the world celebrate periods? Action Aid. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from
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