Written by Nuha and Kaamya
Any stain or blemish on a person's body or character is referred to as a stigma. In today's world, we have made great strides in eliminating the shame associated with menstruation. But there is still a long way to go. This collaboration between The Red Lotus and Team Canoe aims to promote and encourage sustainable menstruation and de-stigmatize periods.
Why is it that periods are so secretly discussed in our society? Why aren't we discussing periods as openly as we would any other natural biological process? Years of deep-rooted stigmatisation of menstruation, myths about periods, misogyny, and conservatism have all contributed to this perspective on menstruation. But it's past time for us to make a difference. Menstruators should feel comfortable to openly discuss periods, and society should work to make the world a better and more accepting place. Continuing to believe that periods are "dirty", "impure" or "unholy" does no good and merely adds to the stigma. The first step towards breaking this taboo is to ensure that sanitary items are accessible to all sections of society and that they are affordable. It is a necessity, rather than a luxury. We must also address menstruation freely and without euphemisms. The taboo would disappear on its own if everyone started seeing menstruation as a natural human process, and this starts with the youth taking the initiative to raise awareness. This, too, would contribute to detaching the stigma and making periods more normal.
Starting conversations without any “societal boundaries” and shame would go a long way in regularising and de-stigmatising menstruation. Why do menstruators still find it ‘awkward’ or ‘uncomfortable’ to talk about periods with the opposite sex? Why do we embed this fear of judgement in younger generations and hence, prohibit ourselves from talking and learning about menstruation? Neither do menstruators talk about their experiences, nor do non-menstruators learn and understand them, thereby continuing the taboo. It is high time that we spark a free conversation, for everyone to believe that menstruation is totally normal. We, at Canoe, strive to provide a platform to encourage discussions that are relevant in our day-to-day lives. We hope that this collaboration with The Red Lotus project helps normalise the period talk, eliminate all misconceptions on menstruation and begin a conversation among all our readers. Talking openly about such presumably “difficult” things will go a long way to reduce euphemisms and taboos around them and we hope to provide a judgement-free space to spark such conversations.
Let's talk about sustainable menstruation now. This entails that we consider what happens to used period products after they are disposed of. Sanitary pads and tampons are the most common period products. Pads are made up of 90% plastic, so you can guess where this is headed. The ecosystem is severely harmed when these pads are dumped in massive garbage dumps without being properly treated.
So, what can we do to be more sustainable when it comes to menstruation? Menstrual cups and cloth pads are two sustainable alternatives to sanitary pads. These contribute significantly to the reduction of pollution caused by disposable period goods. Now, everyone is free to use whichever period product they’re comfortable with. So, for all of you who use sanitary pads, here's how you can help. To begin with, we must recognise that hygiene has a substantial impact on long-term sustainability.
It's extremely challenging for landfill workers to differentiate menstrual waste from the bulk when pads are mixed in with regular garbage. It is not only dehumanising for them to have to dig through trash to collect other people's menstrual waste, but it also makes their job more labour intensive and time consuming. The Red Lotus team paid a visit to the landfill workers to learn more about their experiences. They raised their concerns about menstrual sustainability. They have dedicated their blood, sweat, and tears to devising a feasible method for period waste disposal; it is only fair that we do our part by separating our menstrual trash from regular garbage before sending it off, a message that the Red Lotus project aims to spread in as many of the youth as possible.
At the end of the day, it is our responsibility, as the future generation, to take action. As members of the youth, we have the enormous potential and opportunities to enact change and make a difference in our lives. We hope this piece has provided you with thoughts for how you can support and raise awareness about the de-stigmatisation of periods as well as advocate for sustainable menstruation. Change begins with each one of you!
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