Background

There is no doubt that access to better, equal healthcare resources is one of the most important cornerstones of development for all governments. When we look deep into this goal, we begin to see how health and healthcare are products of the broader contexts of our everyday lives – our social, economic, religious, and even cultural beliefs. As an extension, biases, prejudices, and ideologies – upheld by communities or those in positions of power – affect ideas of care (who receives care, how, when, and where).  

When we zoom into the question of equitable healthcare access, it is impossible to overlook how healthcare systems directly echo gendered biases prevalent in society, often in detrimental ways. In India, one such major gap can be seen in conversations around menstruation, which, even in the 2020s, is shaped by culture, religion, and discrimination. For decades, these biases have contributed to a perpetual cycle of false information being circulated and believed in, further impeding the well-being of countless women and girls in the country. Even when there is an attempt to encourage open conversation, it is frequently, if not always, hindered by many strict cultural taboos. This, in turn, creates an atmosphere in which a normal biological process is wrapped in shame. For women, this silence has real consequences for their health, education and overall wellbeing. 

When we examine available data (India National Family Health Survey: 2019-2021), we begin to notice how deeply systemic these problems are. We start to see alarming gaps, including how only about 78% of Indian women between the ages of 15 and 24 are using hygienic menstrual products. This figure tells us that, still, a large number of women in India use very unsafe sanitary substitutes, which raises the risk of infections and even fatal illnesses. Women often use old cloth, plastic, waste paper, and other household items to hold their menstrual blood. This is the reality. 

A very worrying trend in the country was seen in a DASRA report from 2014, which pointed to how almost 23 million girls drop out of school after hitting puberty every year. Some of the reasons behind this haven’t changed even though a decade has passed: lack of access to clean washroom facilities, places to change or dispose of sanitary napkins, or clean menstrual care products to begin with. Despite improved smartphone and internet connectivity, even today, there is very little knowledge about menstrual health for adolescent girls and women in many areas across the country. Given this, it becomes easy to believe myths about menstruation, and there is little to no room to dispel stigma. 

There is a need for open and honest communication to teach everyone, regardless of their gender, about menstruation and help them understand it better. Amidst this, getting diagnosed for medical conditions related to menstrual health becomes all the more difficult. Many women go undiagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis, which hampers their daily lives. There is a large gap to be filled – one that is constantly growing. Witnessing these issues, and in an effort to encourage open dialogue, Menstrual Warriors of the World (M-WOW) was founded. A critical step in making sure that menstruation no longer stands in the way of opportunity and wellbeing in India.