BY: RAHIMAT
I still remember the day when I had my first menstruation. It was a Saturday, and I was at home. Our house was under construction, and my family expected me to help with the household work. From the morning itself, I was feeling unusual pain and discomfort, but I had no idea that it was the sign of my first period.
After a few hours, I suddenly felt something coming out of my vagina. When I checked, I saw red liquid. I had studied in school about menstruation, but in that moment, I forgot everything. My hands and legs were shivering, and I did not understand what to do next.
With a nervous and heavy heart, I called my mother and told her. When she looked into my teary eyes, she calmly said, “Don’t cry, this happens to every girl.” She gave me an undergarment and a folded cloth pad made from a dupatta. She taught me how to use it, and I followed her instructions. Still scared, I held her hand tightly and begged her not to tell my father or brother. She assured me that such things are never shared with men in our society.
That whole day, I kept trying to hide my condition from others. I wanted no one to know that I was on my period. I had both physical pain and mental stress, and it was not easy to handle.
Soon, people in my village came to know. Some neighbors began saying things like, “Now she has grown up, now she is ready for marriage.” Their words hurt me a lot. I felt people started looking at me differently like I was no longer a child but someone “young” or “mature.”
This experience is not only mine. Many girls in rural areas face the same situation. After menstruation, they are often told, “Now you are grown up” or even teased about marriage. Such words make girls feel uncomfortable and ashamed. In rural communities, menstruation becomes a subject of gossip. This silence and stigma make girls afraid to speak openly about their own bodies.
Later, when I got involved in extracurricular activities like programs and awareness sessions, I slowly learned that menstruation is completely natural and normal. I realized that the way girls are treated in my village is not right. Through my child club, I started creating awareness telling other girls and even parents that menstruation is nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
But even today, in many rural areas, girls are not allowed to speak about menstruation in front of fathers, brothers, or any male family members. This culture of silence needs to be broken.
My first menstruation taught me not only about my body but also about the challenges that rural girls face. I believe if we talk openly and treat menstruation as a normal biological process, we can build a healthier and more supportive environment for all girls.