While we are fighting for equality, we constantly try to prove ourselves that we are equal to men. It's true to a part but we forgot the fact that we are not identical. We have different bodily needs when compared to man. Recent Zomato's 10 days paid period leave policy has triggered a heated debate among everyone including the feminists. This is not something entirely new for India.
In 2017, Ninong Ering passed a private bill called "The Menstruation Benefits Bill". This bill states that the women in public and private sector are entitled to take 2 days of paid leave every month during their period cycle and also during their period, if a woman works, she can take 30 minutes break twice a day.
Why is it important?
Women keep pushing ourselves harder to prove and survive in this world that is designed basically for men. Menstruation is still seen as a taboo and women are made to suppress their pain and keep moving. No one talks about the pain that we go through during those days. Every women go through different pain and it is not be voiced out. To the younger generation (girls in schools) we, as progressed women in the nation are currently teaching to suppress their pain and continue with their day to day activities.
The schools should also be adhering to this new policy. Let the girl children take a day off on their first period. Many girls are not taught about their bodily changes until they experience it themselves. Even the sanitary napkin ads that come on TV show inks instead of blood. What is this media trying to hide when the whole world knows what it is?
Let the men in the women's circle understand the menstruation cycle and be of any help or be at the least supportive. Let's normalize the fact that women bleed. Like Twinkle Khanna quoted "Men and women are equal but not identical".
Our work system
Coming to our workplace, not every companies are women friendly. I remember few conversations and debates in a public forum where men fought saying that women are given a special treatment, they don't work long hours and do not stay on weekend support etc etc. No we are not treated equally. Our promotions and ratings are denied because we go on maternity leaves and 6 months of productivity is lost. Any organisation always chooses a male employee over a female employee. Have you ever thought why there aren't any 35 yrs+ female employees (comparatively less) in a company while male employees continue to work even after 50 yrs. It is definitely because of non-supportive organisations.
Years back, when women are working in fields, they had a supportive environment for the women to work. They could take their kids to work. Feed their kids on time and don't have to feel guilty about leaving their kids alone at home or at daycare. But this society has filled us with guilt for many reasons. I don't know how many of you men know this or have tried to understand a woman's body but the sufferings of new mothers are huge. There are mothers of new born babies, who run to their homes during every break to feed their kid. Few mothers use meeting rooms to pump breastmilk and store in cafeteria fridge. Few mothers, stay with engorged painful breasts in office because there isn't any proper mother's room to pump and sometimes we embarrassingly leak too. We travel with pain but none of this understood by fellow male employees or the management.
Shouldn't we revisit the structure of our working system to accommodate both men and women including transgenders? Understanding and supporting each other is what is being progressive. Are we towards it? We are constantly trying to pull each other down which is totally unnecessary. It is indeed a competition. Yes we are fighting every day to keep our job safe. Shouldn't we make the competition fair?
Yours,
Priya
I bleed too!
Thoughtful Priya. Great work
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