periods Archives

Little Women: Slumber Parties Are Where Girls Get Their First Lesson in Sisterhood

The sleepovers that my childhood best friend organised were American pop-culture paradise – we watched rom-coms and discussed boys over a feast of pizza, coke, and ice-cream. But that’s not what they were all about. Our talks steered toward periods and acne and the “burden of our boobs”. What we did not know at the time was that we were creating our first, original feminist safe space.

Sahej Marwah July 5, 2016

POV

Sabarimala vs Triple Talaq: Dear PM, There’s No Choice Between Hindu & Islamic Oppression of Women

In a rare interview, PM Modi stated that banning triple talaq has helped secure gender equality, but the Sabarimala ban on women is a tradition that has nothing to do with discrimination. But if treating women’s bodies as sacrilege isn’t blatant discrimination, what is?

Kahini Iyer June 7, 2016

Features

Why Indian Fathers Must Talk to Their Daughters About Periods

The father is often an absent figure in a young girl’s journey to womanhood. But why should it be that way? If fathers talked to their daughters about menstruation, we’d have men who were less judgmental, more empathetic, and overall compassionate individuals.

Karanjeet Kaur May 30, 2016

Gender

Blood on the Bathroom Floor

Dear advertisers of sanitary napkins, you’ve convinced an entire generation that “ultra-thin pads” can help us conquer the world in tight white pants. But some of us leak through the widest and longest pads, and bleed like a fountain.

Amrita Paul May 29, 2016

Gender

Cramps, Painkillers, and Tears: Why Every Woman Should Have the Right to Take Menstrual Leave

India needs a menstrual leave policy – in the long term, it will likely pave the way for more women-friendly workplaces. It will help remove misconceptions surrounding menstruation, lift the stigma associated with it, and normalise period talk. And hopefully help people understand that there’s nothing “impure” about it.

Hitesha Phukan May 18, 2016

Bollywood

Meet the Real PadMan Before Bollywood Ruins It

“Menstrual hygiene can’t be tackled by an advertising or a marketing team,” said Arunachalam Muruganantham toward the end of Amit Virmani’s 2013 documentary Menstrual Man. Will Akshay Kumar’s PadMan prove him wrong?

Poulomi Das March 30, 2016

Gender

The Test of Blood: How Men Would Menstruate

Over the years, menstruation has been rebranded and claimed as the Man’s Syndrome. Ads now display “Man slaying enemies with the help of super XXTRA Wrestler tampons”.

#VALUE! March 14, 2016