- Menstruation is a taboo subject in Pakistan, leading to silence, shame, and discrimination.
- Activists in Pakistan are challenging the period-taboo, promoting open dialogue, awareness, and access to menstrual hygiene products.
- Initiatives include education, advocacy, skill development programs, awareness campaigns, and policy reforms to create a more inclusive society.
Pakistan is unfortunately one of those countries where period-taboo actually exists. In many societies around the world, menstruation has long been considered a taboo subject, leading to silence, shame, and discrimination.
Pakistan is no exception, where the topic of menstruation remains largely unspoken, causing a lack of awareness, access to menstrual hygiene products, and limited educational opportunities for girls.
However, there is a growing movement of activists in Pakistan who are dedicated to breaking the silence and challenging the period-taboo.
This article delves into the initiatives undertaken by these passionate individuals, shedding light on their efforts to create a more inclusive and informed society.
Understanding the Period-Taboo
The menstruation taboo in Pakistan stems from deeply ingrained cultural norms and beliefs that associate menstruation with impurity, shame, and even sin. This mindset perpetuates the secrecy surrounding periods and restricts open dialogue, often resulting in inadequate support systems for women and girls.
Breaking the Silence: The Rise of Menstrual Activism
Menstrual activists in Pakistan are actively challenging the status quo by engaging in conversations about menstruation, breaking the silence, and normalizing the topic. They aim to create safe spaces for discussions, dispel myths and misconceptions, and advocate for change at various levels.
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In July, Anum Khalid, a 24-year-old student studying architectural engineering in Multan, a city in southern Punjab province, took to Facebook to seek help in collecting relief supplies. It wasn’t long before she received a response from Bushra Mahnoor, a 22-year-old psychology student at a university in Lahore. Although the two had never met before, Bushra’s message read, “Let’s do this together.”
The memories of the devastating floods that struck Pakistan in 2010 resurfaced for Bushra. Back then, as a 10-year-old, she accompanied her mother, who volunteered at a relief camp in the town of Khairabad. During their visit, they encountered a young girl with blood-stained clothes.
The girl had just started menstruating but had no understanding of what was happening to her body. She lacked proper knowledge about menstruation and didn’t have access to any menstrual supplies. Amid the chaos of seeking help and shelter, Bushra couldn’t forget about that girl.
Driven by their shared concern for menstrual hygiene, Bushra and Anum established a group to advocate for the provision of menstrual hygiene supplies such as pads and underwear. They diligently packed the supplies and coordinated with local aid organizations to distribute the kits to women in Sindh and Balochistan, the worst-affected provinces.
They named their group “Mahwari Justice,” with “mahwari” meaning menstruation in Urdu. Additionally, they created a GoFundMe page and a Twitter account to raise awareness and support for their cause.
Bushra and Anum tapped into their personal networks and connected with other aid workers who were willing to assist them in engaging with women in camps and villages. They discovered that women were resorting to using whatever was available during their periods: sand, dried leaves, cow dung, and scraps of cloth. In areas with stagnant water, they had no means to wash or dry the cloth. Bushra and Anum had conversations with a mother in Lasbela whose daughters had to share the same rag.
Members of the trans community joined forces with local volunteers, including fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and young women, to pack menstrual hygiene kits. Through the assistance of midwives, doctors travelling to the affected areas, and local contacts engaged in small-scale relief work, they managed to distribute hygiene kits containing pads, underwear, soap, and detergent to 3,000 women in Balochistan within a few weeks.
Menstrual Health Education: A Key Step Forward
One of the fundamental aspects of menstrual activism is providing comprehensive menstrual health education. Activists are conducting workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns to educate both girls and boys about menstruation, its significance, and debunk associated myths.
Advocacy for Accessible Menstrual Hygiene Products
Another vital aspect of menstrual activism in Pakistan is advocating for accessible and affordable menstrual hygiene products. Activists are working tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of safe and sustainable options, such as reusable pads and menstrual cups, and striving to make these products more widely available.
Empowering Women Through Skill Development Programs
Menstrual activists understand the need for sustainable solutions and economic empowerment. They are initiating skill development programs that teach women how to manufacture and market their own menstrual hygiene products. This not only addresses the issue of accessibility but also empowers women to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
Menstrual Awareness Campaigns: Shattering Stigma
To challenge social norms and break down barriers, activists organize menstrual awareness campaigns. These campaigns utilize various mediums, including social media, traditional media, and community engagement, to reach a wider audience and dispel the myths surrounding menstruation.
Grassroots Activism: Mobilizing Communities
Menstrual activists recognize the power of community engagement in bringing about change. They are actively working at the grassroots level, collaborating with local organizations, community leaders, and schools to foster a supportive environment and eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation.
Brands have also taken a step towards women’s empowerment by encouraging organisations to install sanitary vending machines.
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Policy and Legal Reforms: Ensuring Rights and Dignity
Advocacy for policy and legal reforms is a crucial component of menstrual activism. Activists are pushing for the inclusion of menstrual health in government policies, advocating for the provision of free menstrual hygiene products in
schools and public spaces, and working towards ensuring that every woman and girl has access to safe and dignified menstrual care.
Intersectionality: Addressing Menstruation within Marginalized Communities
Menstrual activists are committed to addressing the specific challenges faced by marginalized communities, including rural areas, low-income groups, and religious minorities. They strive to make sure that their initiatives are inclusive and cater to the unique needs of these communities.
The Way Forward: Creating Lasting Change
The work of menstrual activists in Pakistan is paving the way for lasting change. By breaking the silence, providing education, advocating for policy reforms, and empowering women, they are transforming the narrative around menstruation. However, there is still a long way to go, and sustained efforts from all stakeholders are necessary to achieve a society free from period-taboo.
Mensuration is a normal and natural process, it’s high time we educate our daughters as well as our sons about it and help them understand that there is nothing ‘wrong’ or ‘disgusting’ or ‘abnormal’ about it.
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