Ananya Pandey has made her mark A youth icon in the Hindi film industryWith back-to-back related performances that resonated with young audiences. In a recent conversation with News 18The Call me Bey The actor opened up about her experience of getting her period for the first time. “When I got my first period, I remember being at school and I didn’t understand what happened to me because no one told me about it. When I went home, I was very scared because I thought something was wrong with me and I hurt myself. I didn’t know what was going on, but my mother and I did grandmother Gave me a gift and they told me it was a moment to celebrate.
Speaking of how there needs to be more conversation around Menstruation In the public sphere, Pandey urged people to speak up, especially in front of men, to normalize the topic. “You have to ask for what you need and I’ve seen them give it to you if it makes some of the men around you uncomfortable,” he added.
How men can offer support
Indianexpress.com spoke to Psychologist Ashutosh Tiwari of MindGlass Wellbeing and found out some ways men can help themselves in such situations.
Normalizing the conversation around periods starts by breaking the silence, and is achieved through open dialogue – listening to the needs and concerns of men and women of all ages and social groups and then moving forward with a one-size-fits-all approach. Community members can challenge taboos by fostering healthy and needs-based dialogue and assertive communication and body positivity for girls of all ages.
“The goal is to normalize menstruation as a biological process in women through education and awareness programs, media discussion and representation, and positive cultural change that allows women to enter the kitchen and participate in worship,” he said.
According to Tiwari, men can fulfill their role by showing empathy and understanding the needs of their wives, daughters and sisters. They can actively support their wives, daughters and sisters by helping them purchase products related to their menstrual cycle or scheduling appointments with their doctors if they face problems maintaining a healthy cycle. Gender norms prohibiting menstruating women from entering kitchens and temples should also be challenged.
Stigma in Indian society negatively affects the mental health of teenagers (Source: Freepik)
Effects of stigma
Periods surrounding stigma in Indian society have had a negative impact on adolescent mental health, leading to a lack of openness and a significant decline in education. Many women face many physical hardships due to stigma and not being able to inform their family members about their condition and also face social isolation from less aware communities and family members.
“We can address this problem by establishing supportive environments that include workplace policies that address physical and psychological challenges during menstruation, school programs that teach both sexes about their needs and how to manage them healthily, and community building initiatives,” Tiwari said. added
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