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Journalism of Courage
Janhvi Kapoor recently voiced her frustration over the dismissive attitude some men take toward women by attributing their emotions or assertiveness to their menstrual cycle.
In an interview with Hauterrfly, she pointed out how casually phrases like “Is it that time of the month?” are used to undermine women’s opinions and emotions. She said, “Agar main jhagda karne ki koshish kar rahi hu ya meri point ko saamne rakhne ki koshish kar rahi hu aur aap bolte ho, ‘Is it that time of the month?’ then, like, take a hike. But agar aap sach mein humdardi dikha rahe ho, ki, ‘Do you need a minute, is it that time of the month?’ (If I am trying to argue or put my point across, and you say, ‘Is it that time of the month?’ then, like, take a hike. But if you are genuinely showing empathy, like, ‘Do you need a minute? Is it that time of the month?’ then that’s different). Then yeah, more often than not, you do need a minute, because the way our hormones are off the charts, the pain we go through, that genuine consideration is always welcome.”
Her statement raises important questions about how menstruation is perceived and how it continues to be weaponised to discredit women.
Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells indianexpress.com, “Phrases like ‘Is it that time of the month?’ persist because of deeply ingrained gender biases and a history of dismissing women’s emotions as irrational or overly sensitive. This undermines a woman’s argument, reducing her frustration, anger, or assertiveness to mere hormonal fluctuations rather than valid reasoning.”
Society has long treated menstruation as a taboo, something shameful or embarrassing, rather than a natural biological process, Arora states, adding that this attitude “reflects a broader discomfort with female physiology and a failure to acknowledge women’s emotional responses as legitimate.”
When women express strong emotions, they are often perceived as “overreacting” or “too emotional,” whereas similar reactions in men might be framed as passion, decisiveness, or strength. This double standard reveals a fundamental societal bias that continues to downplay women’s perspectives.
Arora stresses, “Dismissing and invalidating a woman’s thoughts as ‘you’re PMSing’ is a form of gaslighting in itself, making them start doubting their own emotions and reactions. Over time, this can contribute to lower self-esteem, increased stress, and even imposter syndrome, particularly in professional settings.”
In the workplace, he says that women often feel “pressured to downplay” menstrual discomfort for fear of being seen as weak. This stigma can discourage open discussions about period-related health concerns, leading to delayed medical intervention and untreated conditions.
