On 12 May 2023, Maharashtra Police arrested a 30-year-old security guard in Thane for allegedly murdering his 12-year-old sister. The sister was experiencing her first menstruation. Seeing blood stains on her clothes, the accused suspected that she had engaged in a sexual relationship with someone. During interrogation, the accused told the police that when he asked the victim about the blood on her clothes, she could not respond, after which he beat her. She collapsed, and when taken to the hospital, she was declared dead.
This incident took place just a few days before World Menstrual Hygiene Day. It highlighted the importance of educating boys and men about menstruation. Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is not just a women’s issue. For decades, menstrual health programs have mainly focused on girls, prioritizing the distribution of sanitary pads through government schemes. India has made significant progress in menstrual health over the past decade, but menstruation is still surrounded by silence. This culture of silence around menstruation has a deep impact on adolescent girls’ health and education, as it leads to misinformation, unhygienic practices, and shame. It also affects their education.
To truly promote menstrual health in India, we must normalize conversations about it across all genders and generations, and the Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is trying to do exactly this through its campaign ‘Menstrual Health Matters’. I fully agree with her words: “Education related to menstrual hygiene should not be limited to girls only. We will also reach boys to help them understand menstruation and reduce stigma around it.”
Furthermore, when brothers understand it, harmony increases in the household. When future husbands and fathers-in-law understand it, families will become happier, healthier, and more supportive. These are truly inspiring words. This is a welcome change. I strongly believe that comprehensive and meaningful education and open conversations on menstruation can help adolescent boys and men better understand menstruation and eliminate stigma associated with it.
On the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day, the country’s only woman Chief Minister said that menstruation is not just a “women’s issue”; it is equally important for boys to understand its nuances and for inclusive platforms to be created for discussion. According to several studies, educating boys from an early age and dispelling myths related to menstruation leads to a positive change in their knowledge and attitude towards menstruation.
When adolescent boys and girls can talk about menstruation openly and respectfully, we take one more step toward building an equal and just society that values dignity, equality, and well-being for all.
India has many deep cultural and social taboos related to menstruation, which make it difficult to talk about the subject, especially with boys. The initiative by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta aims to create awareness among boys about menstruation. This groundbreaking initiative will help create a generation of boys who are more aware of menstrual health, enabling them to support their friends, sisters, classmates, future partners, and daughters.
This will also enable boys to participate in public discussions and policymaking related to menstrual health in the future, leading to more inclusive solutions. In many households, male members already purchase sanitary pads, and many shops selling menstrual hygiene products are owned and operated by men. Yet menstruation remains a topic largely confined to women and young girls, spoken about in hushed tones and rarely discussed in public spaces or family conversations.
Delhi has taken a major step in this direction. Now it is time for other states to take inspiration from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and direct schools to educate and raise awareness about menstrual hygiene among both boys and girls and actively eliminate the stigma associated with it.
To prevent such incidents in Maharashtra from happening again, it is extremely important that brothers of all adolescent girls are educated about the menstrual process and made aware to support and respect their sisters during menstruation. This will enable them to contribute to their sisters’ health and well-being.
Finally, I would like to echo the motto of The Pad Project in my own words: a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education or her life.
