At a time when progress in women’s education and the involvement of women in various issues are unparalleled, menstruation continues to be a taboo subject in Kerala.
In many families in the State, menstruating women are still considered impure and subject to isolation. Period-shaming is common in not just schools, but in work places too. Women are hesitant to purchase sanitary pads in public, and the pads are often wrapped and hidden.
A group of youngsters under the banner of Kozhikode-based The Red Cycle and Haiku and Delhi-based Happy to Bleed is making deliberate attempts to change the situation.
The Red Cycle has been challenging taboos, social stigma and misconceptions around menstruation and is educating women and men on the biological process, the importance of menstrual hygiene management, alternative menstrual hygiene practices and related environment issues. The Haiku supports The Red Cycle in this mission and was inspired by the Happy to Bleed campaign.
Taking their mission forward, the groups plan to create a space for conversations on menstruation in public. A day-long festival, ‘Celebrate Menstruation’, in association with Sustainable Menstruation Kerala (SMK), will be held at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram on March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Three-hour sessions
Several programmes will be organised in Kozhikode on March 9 in association with various college unions. ‘Mud Blood’ is being organised in association with the Social Work Department of St. Joseph’s College at 10 a.m., while ‘Womenses’ is being organised at the Government Law College at 2 p.m. ‘Bloody Talk’ will be held at the Government Medical College at 5 p.m.
The three-hour-long sessions constitute the screening of Womenses , a documentary directed by Unnikrishnan Avala, and Kara , an experimental short film by youngsters, followed by a panel discussion and interactive sessions with menstrual hygiene educators and activists.
The panel comprises Nikita Azad who started the Happy To Bleed campaign nationwide, activist K. Ajitha, Unnikrishnan Avala and Gopi Vijayakumar, a social worker who challenged manufacturers of sanitary napkins at the National Green Tribunal.
