You are a Superhero!

A little girl was walking back home from her school. While walking down the street, she was licking a lollipop and she was in a jovial mood. But something was wrong. Every person she passed by stared at her, and gave her a weird look. Some teen-aged boys playing on the street were even laughing at her. She got confused. She thought why the people were acting strange, until she realized that her skirt was stained with blood. She, had her first DISCHARGE! 

She stood there appalled. The lollipop in her hand fell down. Sweat and tears ran down her face and she couldn't think of anything rather than running away. She felt embarrassed, annoyed and exasperated. She just wanted her dignity back... 

This is what every woman in this country feels like. 'Menstruation' is something which is kept private, because people feel ashamed of talking about it. Even sanitary pads are wrapped in a newspaper or in a black polythene when they are sold. In India, it is still considered as a taboo and in thousands of villages and towns women are not allowed to enter the house during their periods. Around 23% girls are dropped out of school annually on reaching puberty because of lack of proper menstrual hygiene management facilities.

We live in a society where people think menstruation should be kept non-public and its a five day curse, but we have to understand that its natural and its a blessing because girls menstruate as they can give birth. The boys can't even imagine what girls go through during their periods. Irritation, mood swings, cramps and many other problems. They can't do everything they want to during those five days. Just imagine if you are forbidden from doing anything that you love for five days, how would you feel? But the girls face it every month!

Women in some rural areas don't use sanitary pads or tampons. They use cloth, sand or ash which can cause severe problems like urinary tract infections, vaginal infections and other problems. We just can't imagine what problems and sufferings women has to face.

'Don't enter the temple', 'Don't enter the kitchen', are some bizarre rules laid down and this emphasizes that women are impure, dirty or even less than a human being during those days. We are in the 21st century and yet these rules exist. Because of these rules, some women are ashamed of talking about periods thinking they would be abandoned. If there would have been proper education about menstruation and not about what women can do and cannot do, it would have become more comfortable for women to address their problems.

So, what we men can do?

First of all and the easiest thing, love them and respect them. Help them in their household works. Be patient, don't blame them for their irritability during their periods. Bring them the food they crave. Bring them sanitary pads and tampons without feeling embarrassed, rather women respect men who buy pads and tampons for their mothers, sisters or wives. Make them feel happy, and if they have mood swings, give them some space, don't take things personally. Read articles about menstruation and gain some knowledge about periods because this shows that you care for them and they'll be very proud of you. Ask them what you can do for them, not only at your house but also at your schools, colleges or workplace to your female friends and female colleagues. There are many things we men can do for them and these are just few examples.

Women are real superheroes. They bleed every month, still they don't die, rather they are defying the odds and reaching new heights!!!  

TO ALL THE WOMEN OUT THERE - YOU ARE A SUPERHERO!