A Caged Generation r#PeriodPride

Many women in the world still consider Periods as diseases. Some just hate them. Some had horrible experiences reminiscing those days. Even though I was not one of them but I met a generation who went through such practices.

Age old customs 

In the earlier days (Some say in tribal ages) when woman’s menstrual days she was taken care well. Considering her fragile and weak state she was given a separate place outside the home for these three days. She was given food and her health was taken care well because in these days woman go through extreme pain and cramping and she is allowed to relax and heal her body. After that she had a cleansing bath and enter in the home back.

But when did it went wrong? 

Religion played a rule maker in such customs. As the times passed it becomes rigid and hard to break until people who went through such practices decided to say no with no other means.

The Rigid cage

I was born in one the orthodox communities of India. In Brahmin community woman who had periods is considers to thooram or theethu. I can’t find a proper English word for that.  It can be called outdoors. She needs to stay outside house for those three days. She was not allowed to touch anything in the house. If she touches anything that to become teethu. (It includes everything I guess. Since it is not classified what she touch or not to touch).She is prohibited from any work in the home until these three days are over. Old ladies in the home ruled with the iron hand and a middle aged woman looked helpless and unable to do anything to confused younger girls who are terrified with fear of those three days.

When the girl had her first it was celebrated with Pomp and posh. It is an announcement in the ages that girl is become the woman now she is ready for marriage. She is being branded now because in those days girls are married at early ages. But nowadays it was an almost abandoned custom. 
Thanks to God.

A theetu woman was at the mercy of others. She was given food last in the home after every member of the house is eaten. She can’t eat the even food of her choice. She had to sleep on the hard floor. My aunt once was not given proper food in those days. 

Breaking the cages.

My mother used to tell me in her teenage years she and her elder sisters has to sleep on a back side of the house in menstrual days.  That to alone. Rats will run through your legs or ants will go into the ear. She was too scared but never opened her mouth. But my mother’s younger sister‘s time came, She refused to sleep there on the hard floor. She was so adamant at last my grandparents give up their rules and allowed her to sleep inside. They covered the god with a white cloth and poured Gobar water in the house once my aunt went to college. My aunt stood for her and sisters. 

My mother in law had another story to share. She belongs to a large family. She and her sisters spend their time of period days  enjoyably  by  doing things like reading book and eating outside food. Her mother believed in all customs and rituals still, she allowed her daughters to enjoy their days of freedom without any regulations that make them miserable. It was the late seventies. A time new generation of men and woman evolved who vouched they will abandon this age old ritual and bring up their daughters and sons do the same. And they saved us. That includes me and my cousins were brought up liberally. When I got married the only restriction my mother in law put on me is just staying away from religious functions, pooja, prayers and temple related things.

The emergence of nuclear families broke the joint family rule. There are no more grandma or old ladies who pester them to follow old rules. People made new rules. They had become adaptable to a new life style with fewer rules but believing in religion fully.

There are many girls went through this and vowed they will never allow their future generations to go through this when they become mothers and mother in laws. I salute those woman bringing and changing this society slowly and gradually.  The Past can never be undone but it can pave the better way to future.

Lastly, when I search in net for blog or experience about their period pride, I found many articles about menstrual days and hygiene. But what I found interesting is I read travel blog of the father who wrote proudly he will never allow his wife of children to go through conditions which he had seen his mother and sister. And his blog inspired me to write up my story.

Periods are part of the woman. It is never a shame. But it is pride. A time to know your body where the woman needs to be treated with extra care. I dedicate this blog to all those unsung womanhood who made us what we really are today. 

For teaching us we are not caged woman anymore and we too have wings.

“This blogathon is supported by the Maya App, used by 6.5 million women worldwide to take charge of their periods and health.”