Half of India's population is menstruating every month. Yet India, like many other countries, harbors severe socio-cultural taboos around menstruation. The lack of awareness and education on menstrual hygiene management has led to many health issues for menstruators in India. In recent years, menstrual cups have gained popularity as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional menstrual products. Due to cultural restrictions, they are still not widely accepted in India.
Are Menstrual Cups a Threat to Virginity?
Among many, the main reason for the limited acceptance of menstrual cups in India is the lack of knowledge about their usage. Primarily, menstruators are hesitant to try menstrual cups due to their unfamiliarity with them, or some consider them painful. Additionally, there are more complicated cultural restrictions on menstrual cups in India. Topping the list is the issue of virginity. For instance, many consider the insertion of any foreign object into the body as impure and may not use menstrual cups to retain virginity. This idea comes from the concept of assigning virginity to the hymen. Breaking the hymen symbolizes a menstruator's impurity. A popular notion is, if the menstrual cup is inserted the virginity is lost.
Why India Cannot Embrace Menstrual Cups
Let alone menstrual cups, menstruation is still considered a taboo topic in many households around the country. Menstruators are expected to keep it a secret. The lack of sex education and awareness on menstrual hygiene management has also contributed to the limited acceptance of menstrual cups in India. Meanwhile, the availability of menstrual cups in rural areas is limited. Their high cost adds to its unpopularity. Adding insult to injury, backdated concepts of retaining virginity, untouchability during menstruation, and many other superstitions are further alienating menstrual cups.
Spriha's battle against Cultural Restrictions on Menstruation
To overcome the cultural restrictions on menstrual cups in India, there is a need to raise awareness and educate menstruators about menstrual hygiene management and the benefits of using menstrual cups.
Spriha Society has undertaken various initiatives such as visiting schools, community-based education programs, peer-to-peer education, and the involvement of healthcare professionals. There is a need to involve men in the conversation about menstrual hygiene management to break the taboo surrounding menstruation in India. If a majority of the female (AFAB) population are menstruators, menstruation is undoubtedly a national issue.
Steps to Promote Menstrual Cups in India
Elaborate sex education sessions about menstrual hygiene management and the benefits of using menstrual cups. Teaching eco-sustainability is pivotal.
Involve healthcare professionals in spreading awareness about menstrual cups. Government should give out free menstrual cups in rural belts. They should also employ staff to train menstruators about menstrual cups and other menstrual hygiene products.
It is pivotal to conduct community-based education programs and peer-to-peer education.
It's high time to involve non-menstruators in the conversation about menstrual hygiene management to break the taboo surrounding menstruation.
Mandatory Sex Education to familiarize Menstrual Cups
Sex education and awareness are essential to breaking the taboos surrounding menstruation in India. Dr. Pooja Agrawal, an Indian gynecologist, says, "We need to educate menstruators about their bodies and break the taboo surrounding menstruation. Menstrual cups are a safe and eco-friendly alternative to traditional menstrual products, and we need to spread awareness about their usage."
It's important to tell young menstruators they are the authorities over their bodies. They need to know from a tender age they do not carry the entire social order on their bodies
Menstrual Cups: User's Manual
Using a menstrual cup is quite simple. It is inserted into the vagina and can be worn for up to 12 hours. The cup needs to be removed and emptied every 4-6 hours, depending on the flow. After emptying, it can be washed with soap and lukewarm water. The best part is that menstrual cups are reusable. Hence, menstrual cups are highly nature friendly.
Sanitary napkins or crude cloths have several side effects. Constant use of sanitary napkins causes irritation, rash, UTIs, and even cancer in some cases. Additionally, the disposal of sanitary napkins is also a difficult task. Lack of waste management systems in many areas see the ultimate level of pollution from disposed sanitary napkins. If thrown down the drainage it clogs it, if it is burnt air pollution rises. Buying sanitary napkins is also a repeated expense.
Menstrual Cups can serve as a great and comfortable alternative to all such above-mentioned problems.
Be Kind to the Environment by Using Menstrual Cups
Spriha Society claims menstrual hygiene management is crucial for women's health and well-being. Menstrual cups are a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional menstrual products. Spriha Society aims to ensure a menstruating woman's right to choose menstrual cups without worrying about societal pressure. It is not an issue that men have to bear every month. So, they should support a woman's choice of her comfort. Sex education is mandatory at the school level to battle this social evil.
There is a need to educate individuals about menstrual hygiene management and the benefits of using menstrual cups. It is time to break the taboo surrounding menstruation and promote menstrual well-being. Menstruators should be informed they have the choice to decide what should or should happen to their bodies. Once and for all, social order is not dependent upon the menstruator's body.