Over the years we, the women of Indian society have been taught that periods are something to be hushed upon.
Sshhhh….
‘Don’t talk about this in front of your dad or brother or your male friends, they need not know about this’, are literally the first words a teen girl hears when she enters puberty. Periods have been, like a ‘dark secret corner’ for every female out there.
Recently some private companies in India have begun offering women paid menstrual leave, a development I feel might end up hurting women more than it helps.
To grant all women menstrual leave would buy into a stereotype that has existed for millennia- namely that menstruation renders women unfit to work, period.
It’s because of this history that I’m wary of returning to an argument that all females are crippled by menstruation-which is what menstruation leave implies to me.
With over 6 months of maternity leave & now a proposal for additional 12 days a year for period leave in a bid to make the workplace more women friendly. Are we taking a step back from women’s empowerment by alienating the workplace further from the woman?
While helpful to those who suffer severe pain- seems overall like a retrograde request, especially considering how far women have come without it. Plus, these kinds of policies threaten upon to undermine women’s long standing battle to discourage the notion that their natural cycle makes them weak in any way less able.
Another possible downside of the policy: employers could use it as the basis for bias. It could discourage businesses from hiring women. Employers could use menstrual leave for promotions or even offering women lower wages.
‘Hire a man instead; he’s guaranteed to not take that time off’
It suggests women are uniquely handicapped in the workplace by the fact that they have periods.
I am not saying that no one needs time off from work, many do. I know a lot of women (including me) go through hell during that time but there is always the scope of taking sick leave if some women feel they need it.
What can be done?
Women can be empowered to make positive decisions about their own health.
Period pain should not be trivialized or subject to stigmatization so 12 extra sick leaves can be added for women instead of calling it FPL.
Creating a comfortable work environment can help a lot.
We can encourage them & empower them& make sure a period ≠ stop.
picture courtesy @ishan__kapoor
until next time
lots of love
