Delhi government schools to give menstruation lessons to girl students

 

The Delhi government in collaboration with NGO Sacchi Saheli is initiating a campaign named ‘Break the Bloody taboo’ to conduct period talks with teenage girl students in 70 government schools. The talks will address various frequently asked questions by teenage girls about menstruation.  

 

The Break the Bloody taboo campaign started with period lessons in slum areas, and now it has been extended to the government-run schools. 

 

About this initiative, Surbhi Singh, a gynaecologist, who has been roped into conduct these lessons, was quoted by PTI as saying, “Usually lessons on menstruation are imparted to girls by their mothers who unfortunately also pass on superstition, stigma and fear surrounding the natural bodily process.”

 

"There is an urgent need to educate young girls that menstruation is no disease and they need not be ashamed of it," she further added. 

 

The period talks aim at offering scientific reasons behind various basic questions related to menstruation, like whether it’s advisable to take painkillers for cramps, and also dispelling myths of women being told not to touch pickle or wash their hair during periods.

 

During the session, a questionnaire will be handed out to girls to gauge how much they know about the process. "They will be asked basic questions such as 'how did they find out about periods' and whether they were informed about it beforehand. The girls will also be taught how to use and dispose of sanitary napkins," she said.

"If need be, mothers of these girls will also be counselled to ensure that their orthodox beliefs about menstruation are changed," Singh added.

 

Menstruation is one of the many topics related to female anatomy and health that has a lot of misconceptions surrounding it. It is still a matter of taboo that should not be addressed in public, and many young girls still see it as an abnormality rather than a natural process.

 

As girls attain puberty at an early age, and with menstruation come a whole plethora of other issues like period hygiene, use of period-related products, cramps, hormonal changes, often young girls are left confused and unable to cope with their physical changes. Further misconceptions, period shaming, and the current societal outlook towards menstruation add to the stigma for young girls.

 

Menstruation is a natural biological process that has become an unnatural fact for social comfort just because society refuses to talk about it or to a large extend acknowledge its existence. Menstruation is a part naturally born women, and it is empowering since it represents reproduction, a necessity for the survival of human race. 

 

Menstruation is about inner strength of women, but it has become an outer weakness for females. It is high time the society learns to talk about it and empower each and every girl by offering the right information. Addressing menstruation itself is a big step towards health and wellness of women.

 

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