I Counted On My Generation To Speak Up But I Was Wrong…

Periods…A whispered word. But the ‘new generation’ as they say, are bringing about a change and claim that they aren’t afraid to say it out loud. Is that really the case? A personal experience I would like to share as a part of the ‘new generation’ would indicate otherwise.

I am in my sophomore year, pursuing a degree in mass communication. Since this field touches upon journalism and media, we are expected to deal with all kinds of sensitive topics including, but not limited to, prostitution, rape, transgenderism and pornography. Periods won’t be much of a hustle, I thought, since my classmates actively share updates of Menstrupedia and similar pages.

However, the following incident took place a couple of months ago. We were divided into groups and assigned a project where we had to shoot and edit a video i.e., to come up with a PSM (Public Service Message) on any topic. What else could be a better topic than the trending debate on menstrual taboos, the openness (or the lack of it) on this topic and the problems faced by girls and women all over the country? Upon my suggestion, I was indeed shocked to receive a negative reaction while disclosing this idea to my group – their faces changed to that of disgust and awkwardness.

“Yaar, yeh topic theek nahi rahega.”

“Thoda sa awkward lagega, kuch aur karte hai na?”

“Mai mummy ko PSM wala video kese dikhaunga?”

“Baaki log kitne ache topics kar rahe hai, we should do something better!”

Still shocked at ‘my generation’s’ reaction, I said, “But… Problem kya hai? This topic is trending and being promoted all over social media and it is high time that we, as mass communication students, do something different and provoke people to talk about it as a normal, natural and biological occurrence instead of making a big secret out of it, dealing it with it as if it were insanity.”

“No! We won’t do it!” came the reply. “But why?”

“Arey, Log kya kahenge?!”

Confused about what transpired, I thought of seeking guidance on this topic from my lecturers and ended up being appreciated by them for bringing out such a ‘mature’ topic so to speak and for thinking out of the box for the betterment of society. I was stuck between the contrasts in the manner of thinking between the previous and the current generations, where my people didn’t support me while the ‘other’ generation encouraged me to execute my thoughts into actions.

P.E.R.I.O.D.S.!

What is the shame in saying it out loud?

What could possibly be so wrong and sinful in bleeding a week every month, when its nature’s way of preparing the female species to carry on biological duties as the only possible way to continue the human race?

If we young minds don’t initiate the discussion and provoke others to come out of their cocoons, especially the ones who in the future are going to be a part of the media, so many sensitive topics will be buried deep, never getting a chance to surface. I am in a dilemma on how to go about motivating people to openly accept this topic and discuss it. Things are still quiet and my questions have been left unanswered.