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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 16, 2014 12:27 PM IST
There are a number of myths surrounding a women's menstruation, and India is a country where there are probably the most. But, it is about time that these myths be done away with. According to boxing champion Mary Kom, it's about time Indian left behind those taboos. In a statement, M.C Mary Kom said, 'In India, menstruation is culturally considered dirty so we need to break this taboo and teach our daughters that it is fine to have periods. Menstruation is the first step towards a healthy motherhood, but in India it is culturally considered dirty or impure,' Mary Kom wrote in an article on the occasion of International Day for Rural Women.
'We need to break this taboo and teach our daughters that it is ok to have periods and it should not weigh them down mentally or physically or hold them back from accomplishing their dreams,' she wrote. Highlighting the need to ensure good health for women and girls in the rural areas and urban slums the medal winning athlete said the girls in rural areas need to be educated and informed about menstruation before they hit puberty. (Read: 6 reasons you might be suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding)
'As mothers we should not shy away from talking about periods to our daughters and educating them. In rural and tribal areas, girls continue to use sawdust, grass or mud during the periods which can lead to infections and even death. 'We should tell our daughters to keep use sanitary napkins or a clean cloth during period and that they should bathe regularly and change their napkins or the cloth every 4-6 hours to keep them clean and dry,' she added.
On the occasion, Mary Kom also joined a campaign -- 'The Taj Must Smile' -- to ensure behavioural change in women and make them aware about their health needs during crucial days of menstruation, pregnancy and lactation. Mary Kom, a five-time world champion, became the first Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal in Asian Games when she clinched the yellow metal in the Incheon Games earlier this month. She also won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. (Read: Are there any natural ways to beat menstrual pain?)
Here is why these myths existed and don't hold true today
Recently Parineeti Chopra was at an event for Whisper sanitary napkins. The brand is currently running the Touch the Pickle campaign where they aim to dispel common myths about periods and all the taboos that surrounding it.
What was really interesting was the fact that one male journalist who was to ask Parineeti a question, was a bit embarrassed and let s say a bit ignorant about the facts when it came to women and periods. In fact he was so mortified at the thought of saying the word periods that he chose to call it a problem . Now, being her unabashed self, Parineeti chided the journalist about how little he knew about women. While the lady really helped voice our sentiments , there a few myths that need to be busted. Here are 5 common myths and taboos related to periods, why they came about and why they no longer hold any truth in today s context. Read more about the common myths surrounding periods.
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: IANS
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