"Breaking the Silence: My Journey to Say No to Period Taboo"
Growing up in Nepal, I was surrounded by whispers and hushed conversations whenever the topic of menstruation arose. It was treated as a taboo, something to be hidden away and spoken about in secret. As a young girl, I internalized these messages, learning to feel ashamed of my own body and its natural processes.
I'll never forget the day I got my first period. I was just a teenager, barely understanding what was happening to my body. Instead of being greeted with understanding and support, I was met with silence and embarrassment. It was as if my own body had betrayed me, marking me as impure and unworthy.
As if that wasn't enough, my own family added to the burden by imposing restrictions that seemed to amplify the shame I already felt. I was told that I couldn't enter the temple when I was menstruating, as if my presence would somehow taint its sacredness. I wasn't allowed to enter the kitchen or touch plants, as if my period rendered me unclean and unfit for even the most basic tasks.
These restrictions felt like a heavy weight pressing down on me, suffocating me with their senselessness and injustice. Why should I be barred from participating in religious rituals or performing daily chores simply because of my period? It didn't make sense, and it certainly didn't feel fair.
But perhaps the most terrifying aspect of all was the belief that if I defied these restrictions, the gods would punish me with negative blessings. I was scared – scared of angering the gods, scared of bringing calamity upon my family, scared of the unknown consequences of breaking the rules.
Yet, deep down, I knew that something wasn't right. I couldn't reconcile the idea of a loving and just god punishing me for something as natural as menstruation. And so, I decided to test the boundaries of these beliefs, to see for myself if they held any truth.
One day, I gathered up the courage to touch a plant while I was menstruating. I waited anxiously for something to happen – for the plant to wither and die, for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. But to my surprise, nothing happened. The plant remained green and vibrant, unaffected by my touch.
Encouraged by this small victory, I decided to take another step. I ventured into the kitchen, trembling with fear and uncertainty. I half-expected the pots and pans to come crashing down around me, to signal the wrath of the gods. But once again, nothing happened. The kitchen remained unchanged, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
In that moment, something shifted inside of me. I realized that all those years of fear and shame had been built on a foundation of falsehoods and misconceptions. I saw firsthand that menstruation was not something to be feared or shamed, but rather a natural and normal part of life.
From that day forward, I vowed to challenge the taboo surrounding menstruation with every fiber of my being. I spoke out against the restrictions imposed on me and other menstruating individuals, refusing to be silenced by fear or shame. I shared my story with anyone who would listen, hoping to inspire others to question the status quo and demand change.
And slowly but surely, I began to see the impact of my advocacy. My family members started to reconsider their beliefs, opening their hearts and minds to a new understanding of menstruation. The whispers and hushed conversations began to give way to open dialogue and acceptance.
But our work is far from over. There are still countless girls and women around the world who suffer in silence, trapped by the stigma surrounding menstruation. That's why it's so important for each and every one of us to continue speaking out, to continue advocating for change, and to continue saying no to period taboo.
So here I am, standing before you as a proud woman who refuses to be silenced. I may be just one voice in a sea of many, but I know that together, we can make a difference. Together, we can break the silence, challenge the stigma, and create a world where menstruation is celebrated, not shamed.
So let's stand together, hand in hand, and say it loud and clear: NO to period taboo. Because every girl and woman deserves to feel proud of her body, her period, and herself. And together, we can make that vision a reality.