The Discoverie of
Menstrual Facts
Book Title
The Discoverie of Menstrual Facts
By
Manali Bapat
MD21MDES14004 Topic
Publication Design Subject
Graphics and Information Design Guide
Prof. Ankita Roy
Contents
I. Introduction
II. What is Menstruation?
III. Menstration for everyone
IV. Busting myths
V. Final words
Introduction
The Discoverie of
Menstrual Facts
where a conscious attempt is made to educate everyone ‘human’ about the very natural process that menstruation is. The narrative starts with the basics, where menstruation is placed in human reproduction, how each and every human being should be aware of the basic ‘facts’ (irrespective of gender), how it has been shadowed because of numerous myths across cultures; which are inhuman and some are even cruel towards women.
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IV
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The discoverie of mestrual facts The fourth chapter The first section
Myth: Menstrual blood is impure and so menstruating girls and women. Thus, they cannot take part in prayers or in any religious activities. They cannot visit temples. They are not supposed to cook food because it will get spoiled. Even worse, they should not touch any other person or others’ belongings as it spreads impurity or diseases.
Before we go into the details of how false or true these beliefs are, lets try to decode the basics. Menstrual blood (blood + wall lining + mucus) is as natural as any other body discharge and actually, even more precious. And needless to mention, as unhygienic as any other body discharge. Thus, the reasons behind calling it impure might stem from following reasons Smell/odou Monthly frequenc It contains blood (and in other cases except this, blood coming out of a human body is not considered a healthy or good sig It happens only with women (biologically)
Now, lets understand the changes it brings to a women’s body during the cycle. Generally, women tend to get more tired/exhausted than usual because of blood loss, physical pain/discomfort, emotional changes, etc. Thus, naturally one might need more rest, a relaxed schedule, less physical labour and more nutricious food. So, if you see, women/girls should be given extra care and attention when they are menstruating and we see the opposite happening - at least in terms social taboos and emotional load.
Now it is imperative to understand why. Lets travel back in time, to rural India. This was the era when all the household chores - cleaning, cooking, serving, fetching water, etc. required human (woman) labour.
Thus, keeping menstruating women out of the kitchen, main house, household chores like cooking, harvesting, cleaning, religious tasks like puja/prayers was with the intention that they get ample rest and don’t end up straining because of the physical labour.
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Now you must be wondering, if all this stemmed from such innocent intentions, how did it take evil turn? The answer is - Humans.
As generations passed, keeping mestruating women aside gathered different meanings - impure, outcasted, ghosted, influenced by demon and this aggravated as no sane person thought of giving it a ‘thought’. Sometimes humans believe in weird and trivial things. ‘Traditions’ become heavy over ‘Humanity’ and start acquiring different meanings over time. This happens when ‘traditions’ or ‘beliefs’ are passed on from one generation to another without ‘thinking’ The years of stupidity, backed by patriarchy, false egos has provided nutrition for such myths to become mammoth.
Lets tour around the world and see the situation across cultures US/UK - If you touch any vegetable in or after the process of pickling, it won’t get pickled and it will go bad Nepal - You can’t be in homes or have contact with anybody Romania - You can’t touch flowers because they’ll die quicker Argentina - You can’t make whipped cream as it will curdle Italy - Dough won’t rise. Everything you cook will be a disaster. You can’t touch plants France - You can’t make mayonise, It will curdle Japan - You can’t make sushi because you have an imbalance in taste.
Seeing the similarities? Lot of things in common? And are you able to find any logic in any of these? Yes, yes and NO.
Human ego, not accepting one’s fault, finding coincidences and a patriarchical need to control women seems to be at the root of this.
Pickle can go bad if it is not pickled properly; it has absolutely nothing to do with a menstruating women touching it - women do not mentruate through hands.
If anybody touches a flower harshly, it will die. Making mayonise or whipped cream has a process and it will turn out bad if the process is not followed properly.
Menstruation is an internal body process and not a infectious disease. Nothing happens if someone touches a mentruating women.
Yes, I am aware tha making good sushi is an art and it requires the chef to be in sesnes, alert and present in the moment. If the world is so concerned about food cooked by mentruating women going bad, then take care of their health and do not make them cook when what they actually need is rest.
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Read carefully, understand and never dare to forget: Menstruation is a natural bodily process, happening on a certain intervals. Menstrual blood (discharge) contains blood, wall lining and mucus. It smells as dirty as any other body discharge. It is generated in a human body and external, supernatural forces have no hand in it. It is not impure in any sense. It makes women tired, sensitive and can include sudden outbursts and that is absolutely natural and fine. During menstruation, women deserve to be taken care of or given the human right to pamper themselves as it creates extra physical and emotional strain on them.
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MANALI BAPAT PUBLICATIONS
ISBN145-9-123456-98-4569-789-4 INR 250