“Menstruation is a natural phenomenon. What’s all the ruckus about?”, “Let’s embrace #PeriodPride and celebrate our womanhood!” I have heard these statements countless times since the advent of social media, but today, when I needed a pad, I found myself looking for that infamous brown bag out of the same old fear — what if the world came to know I’m experiencing my umpteenth menstrual cycle, or have a superpower that places me in the extraordinary league of Wonder Woman, Cleopatra, Black Widow, and Bandit Queen? I need to hide my womanhood in an unmarked, substance-less crumpled bag.
After enduring a challenging five-minute ordeal in the washroom and engaging in 30 minutes of intricate mental machinations, I finally arrived at a realisation. We live in melting pots that simmer differently. Being brought up in diverse household environments, driven by distinct ideologies, and defined by varied personality quirks, we possess unique perspectives and experiences.
While working on this story, I spoke to women from all walks of life about their experiences with periods. Through these conversations, it became evident that each woman bore the burden of societal expectations, leading them to cloak their menstrual cycles in secrecy.
