Periodic Humiliation

As if women don’t have enough problems on their hands already, they are further burdened by discriminations of strange kinds. One such example is of the strange beliefs and customs that surround the menstrual cycle of women.

Not just India, everywhere you go in the world, there is a varying level of stigma attached with periods. So the world is united at least on one aspect -- that of oppressing women.

Weird Practices, Strange Beliefs: Hinduism

Since ancient times, Indians have held menstruating women as being impure. They are discouraged from participating in normal activities. During the first three days they cannot enter places of worship or the kitchen. Some go to the extent of barring them from touching pickles for they fear that their impure touch will spoil it. Before they can resume their duties after their period, they have to undergo purification. This involves washing one’s hair on the fourth day of the period. Some Balinese temples also prohibit women from entering during this time.

Legend has it that Indra killed Viswarupa, who he believed to be benefiting the demons by offering them the remnants of yajnas performed by Gods. He transferred one-third of the stain of murdering a Brahmin to women. It is said to have taken the form of menstruation and hence, makes any contact with such a woman a sin. Even a child conceived during menstruation is considered ill-fated and the father must undertake penance for the wellbeing of such a child.

The Kerala architectural system ‘Naalu Kettu’ has a specified place for menstruating women in the southern block of the house. They cannot even venture to the other portions of the house during this period.

Other Religions

Not only Hinduism but also Islam, Judaism and some orthodox Christian churches prohibit menstruating women from entering religious places.

Christianity mentions Eve’s original sin as the reason for pains during childbirth. Some ‘scholars’ believe that it was menstruation that was the punishment for the same. They say that a woman is considered unclean and anyone coming in her contact during this time is also supposed to be sullied till evening.

In Japan, women who are having their periods are considered tainted and not only for that time period but stained for life. They are prohibited from climbing the mountain — Mount Sanjo, considered sacred by Shinto Religion from the side that has a temple on it.

Not Just 2012, Mayans Had Other Crackpot Theories, Too

The Mayans had their myths regarding menstruation originating as a punishment for violating rules of marriage. They believed that menstrual blood turns to snakes and insects and finally into the Maya Moon Goddess.

According to folklore, she is the daughter of the Earth God and was wooed by the Sun and captured by him. They slept together and the angry father of the Moon Goddess destroyed her. It is symbolic of the ‘evil blood’. They believed that menstrual blood was stored in thirteen jars, each giving rise to insects and such things. The thirteenth jar, when opened, leads to the rebirth of the Moon Goddess who is also said to be the Goddess of diseases.

Kumari Tradition Of Nepal

The Nepalese worship a living goddess, the Kumari, who is a young girl. This tradition dates back to the thirteenth century. The girl is reverted to being a commoner when she starts menstruating, for it is said that the goddess then leaves the body.

License To Kill

Among the weirdest are the Romans who believed that Vulcan was deformed because he was conceived during menstruation! The people of Mae Enga, Papua New Guinea, believe that a man coming in contact with either a menstruating woman or the blood itself will cause them to fall sick, cause persistent vomiting, blacken his blood, dull his wits and even cause death. It was, then, not surprising that a man divorced his wife when he found her lying on his blanket when she was having her periods. Still not satisfied that he was cleansed, he murdered her with an axe.

Social Dimensions

In a research it was found that 45.5 per cent of the girls in the slum reported that they face social restriction. The most common restriction among them is not going to the neighbourhood and not playing or talking with boys because they may become pregnant! It also mentions that Kayastha families believe that touching homemade vinegar or ghee during menstruation makes it go bad. 

In the present age, it is surprising that even countries like the US harbour inhibitions while discussing menstruation openly. This lack of openness about it is what shrouds it in mystery and gives rise to myths that debilitate women further.

Try arguing with a temple priest to let you in during your period and see for yourself how deeply rooted this belief is. Even when the temple is of a Goddess, the fact that she is a woman should be enough to reason that menstruation is not something to be abhorred. She can bless you with a kid and heal all reproductive ills but the very process that should be in order for a fruitful conception, is taboo.

We are at a juncture in time where PMS is recognised as a physiological condition that could soon be regarded as a ground for leniency in criminal cases. Courts in Britain accept PMDD (a severe form of PMS, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) as mitigating circumstance for crime. Discriminating against women, when they should probably be seeing a physician to help elevate the duress which sometimes periods bring with them, is unwarranted and draconian.

What has been treated as the proof of female inferiority is in fact their strength. The world would certainly be an empty place without the power of procreation that women boast. There is a growing awareness about accepting diseases of all kinds but there is little acceptance for something as normal as menstruation. It’s time to clear the stained perceptions and let information flow freely.