Emoji is the biggest language of communication among people. And, the inclusion of one representing menstruation just took this language to a whole new level! Apple’s new drop-of-blood emoji inspired by Plan International’s campaign of abolishing the period stigma. We speak to young women to understand if menstruation is still a taboo in the country and what they feel about the emoji!
Every woman still battles with the shame that comes of menstruating. They face comments like – Don’t touch the pickle! You are unholy! Menstruation is dirty!
Raina Joseph, a baker is appalled that there is a stigma on something that propogates the human species. She says, “I got mine when I was in the third grade and since then I have been told to be very careful around boys for some reason. But that was the least of my worries. What hurt me the most was on this one occasion when I was at one of my strictly religious friend’s house. She did not let me enter her house because I was menstruating and it was considered unholy! At that point of time I felt I was stuck with this sickness forever. So many efforts are made to destigmatise this and in my opinion I feel that the introduction of a period emoji is also a huge effort. At least now, people who are ashamed of it can now use an emoji.”
Sahana GS, an analyst feels blessed to have a family that is open-minded. “My grandfather who was 95 years old at that time asked me, if it was right to restrict women to a corner during their periods and I expressed my views. To which he explained that the only intention was to let women rest. But people made it sound so bad by tagging women as untouchables while menstruating. The inclusion of this emoji gives us hope there won’t be a taboo in the future,” she says.
Megha Ravi Aatreyas and her sister were subjects to stigma. This senior content reviewer at a famous online shopping portal says, “The introduction of this emoji only helps to keep the stigma at bay. I’m glad people are aware and acceptable. My sister and I weren’t allowed to enter the kitchen or walk around freely in the house during our periods. We were asked to stay in our rooms for all the three days! When I questioned my mum, she said that it was considered unholy. We weren’t even allowed near God’s deities. We couldn’t blame her as these notions were imbibed by her orthodox family.”
Expressing her agitation on the shame of menstruation Divya Iyengar, a theatre artiste opines, “We still feel ashamed to ask a colleague for a sanitary napkin out loud. Even when we buy it from shops they ensure to wrap it well and give in black bags! I don’t understand why we have to behave like ninjas while we’re menstruating. The inclusion of the emoji is only masking our free will of saying the word menstruation! The real deal is about changing mindsets and perceptions.”
