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Journalism of Courage
Ananya Panday has made her mark as a youth icon in the Hindi film industry, with back to back relatable performances that resonate with the younger audience. In a recent conversation with News18, the Call Me Bae actor opened up about her experience with getting her period for the first time. “When I got my first period, I remember being in school and I didn’t understand what had happened to me because no one had spoken to me about it. When I went home, I was very scared because I thought something was wrong with me and that I had hurt myself. I didn’t know what was happening. But my mum and my daadi gave me gifts and they told me that this is a moment to celebrate.”
Speaking about how there is a need for more conversations surrounding menstruation in the public spehere, Panday urged people to speak up, especially in front of men, to normalise the topic. “You’ve to ask for what you need and I’ve seen that they’ll give you even if that makes a few men around you uncomfortable,” she added.
Indianexpress.com spoke to Ashutosh Tiwari, psychologist at MindGlass Wellbeing and found out some ways in which men can offer support in such cases.
Discussion on normalising talk around periods starts with breaking the silence, and is achieved through open dialogue – listening to the needs and hesitations of all ages of men and women and social groups and then taking forward with the best-suited approach for all. Community members can challenge taboos with healthy and need-based dialogue and assertive communication and foster body positivity for all ages of girls.
“The goal is to normalise menstruation as a biologically occurring process in women through education and awareness programs, media discussions and representation, and a positive cultural shift that allows women to enter the kitchen and participate in worship,” he said.
According to Tiwari, men can fulfill their roles by demonstrating empathy and understanding the needs of their wives, daughters, and sisters. They can also actively support their wives, daughters, and sisters by assisting them in purchasing products related to their menstrual cycle or scheduling appointments with their doctors if they encounter issues with maintaining a healthy cycle. Challenging gender norms that prohibit menstruating women from entering kitchens and temples should also be encouraged.
The stigma surrounding periods in Indian society has negatively impacted the mental health of teenagers, leading to a lack of openness and a significant decline in education. Many women have to go through a lot of physical discomfort when they fail to inform their family members about their situation due to stigma and also face social isolation from less aware communities and family members in case she reveals her periods.
“We can address this issue by establishing a supportive environment that encompass workplace policies that address physical and psychological challenges during menstruation, school programs that educate both genders about their needs and how to manage them healthily, and community-building initiatives,” added Tiwari.
