EP: 20 The Shame and Taboos Surrounding Periods

As a nine year old, when I got my periods, it was a matter that needed to be approached with silence and caution. Silence, because periods is a matter of shame and caution so that nobody gets to know I have started menstruating. Such is the case with regards to how we look at periods, not only in India but worldwide. Proctor and Gamble calls their product Whisper in India but the same product is called, Always, in Europe. Just goes to show how the society reacts to menstruation. Shame is not the only thing surrounding periods. There is the case of myths as well. Every culture and community has their own set of myths surrounding menstruation, all of them biased against women. I spoke to Candice Chirwa, The Minister of Menstruation, South Africa to understand the taboos and myths surrounding periods in her country and what we as women can do to normalize conversation around periods.