Deconstructing Menstruation in India: From Stigma to Visibility in Indian Non-Governmental Organizations

Abstract

In India, historical and religious understanding of menstruation as taboo means menstruators often face discrimination and stigmatization. This legacy of taboo means the majority of Indian menstruators have no conception of a period prior to menarche, and many use unhygienic materials like cloth rags, ash, and leaves when menstruating. In some cases, women are unable to bathe, enter kitchens, or temples when menstruating. For this study, interviews were taken with founders, program coordinators, and directors of recently developed Indian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who promote menstrual health education and hygiene. This project revealed the ways in which these NGOs take very specific actions to get rid of historically and religiously constructed taboos within the communities they engage with. Furthermore, it showcases how menstruation in India is intrinsically tied to issues of patriarchy, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights.