BY: PRASHNA
Let’s be honest, the moment someone mentions periods in a room, men either laugh awkwardly, go quiet, or find something very interesting to look at elsewhere. Sound familiar?
But here’s the thing: menstrual hygiene is not just a “woman’s issue”, it’s a human issue. And if you are a man who thinks this has nothing to do with you, think again.
You live in a world with people who menstruate. Your mother, your sister, your colleague, your partner and your friend half of the people around you menstruate. When you mock a woman for having pads in their bag, make a joke about her being hormonal or dismiss her pain as an overreaction then you are adding shame to the culture that has existed far too long. And it’s not ignorance rather harmful.
When men stay silent about the menstrual health it sends the message that periods are embarrassing, dirty or too uncomfortable to acknowledge. The silence has consequences. Girls miss their school, women miss their work. They manage pain and discomfort in silence afraid of being judged. Your willingness to simply not make it uncomfortable can genuinely make a difference.
Being an ally doesn’t require much.You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to:
- Treat menstruation as a normal and biological process
- Support the policies and initiatives
- Speak up when someone jokes about period
Period is not a joke, punchline or something to gossip about. They are life and being someone who understands it is not just maturity but a basic human respect.
So dear men, it’s time for you to show up and be a part of this conversation.
