How Does The Media Influence Menstrual Stigma in India?
Menstruation has been a subject of silence for decades. To this day, in most parts of India, it is considered shameful for a woman to whisper the word period. This ingrained menstrual taboo is not only a cultural issue but a social issue because it infringes on the well-being of women, as well as their self-esteem.
However, over the last few years, there has been a mild but mighty shift spearheaded by the media. They have started to question and redefine stories about menstruation using movies, commercials, and social media influence. A menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiative can permanently transform social dynamics through awareness and communication about menstruation.
The Media’s Role in Shaping Perceptions
The manner in which menstruation is represented on the screen or how it is discussed in commercials is very critical to the way society perceives it. Unfortunately, for a long time, the media has been spreading myths instead of debunking them.
In the past, sanitary napkin commercials did not feature red stains. Instead, blue liquid was used, which indirectly promoted the notion that periods were something to be kept as a secret. On TV programs, women who went through their menstrual cycles were depicted as being weak, emotional, or dirty. Such images added to the menstrual stigma in India, which further enhanced the shame that menstruation advances.
Nevertheless, the role of the media in destigmatizing menstrual taboo is enormous. As more people become aware and youth-led discussions become the norm, increasing platforms are adapting authenticity, openness, and education about menstruation.
How Media Has Evolved by Breaking the Silence
A recent trend in the last 10 years shows that more films, ad campaigns, and even social media trends have started to be frank and bold about menstruation. Advertisements such as Touch the Pickle by Whisper, or movies such as Pad Man and Period. End of Sentence has brought menstruation into the mainstream discourse. These stories are increasing the discussion around equality and empowerment.
Digital media has allowed voices from rural India to share their experiences, bringing to light how deeply menstrual stigma in India affects access to education and work. Through this transformation, the media influence has gradually started banishing menstrual stigma and enabling communities to discuss menstrual health openly.
The Need for Responsible Storytelling
Most of the time, the media’s portrayal of menstruation has been confined to urban women, or it is used as a way of empowering females only in awareness months. A menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiative like Ujaas makes us remember that menstrual awareness is not seasonal, but it is a long-term activity.
The media contributes to the destigmatisation of menstruation by providing a platform where menstruation is viewed as a normal recurring phenomenon in the lives of women, and not one that warrants a special campaign.
The role of media in destigmatising menstrual taboo is very important. When the media acts as an ally, it not only helps in banishing menstrual stigma but also fosters a culture of understanding, compassion, and equality. When properly conducted, responsible media coverage can make it normal to talk about periods at the dinner table, in classes, and in the workplace.
The Dark Side of Media Influence
However, it must also be noted that media influence may actually be the cause of some of the same stigmatisation it is meant to erase. An example is the period-shaming jokes in films or even the insensitive adverts that still mock the menstrual process.
Moreover, misinformation on social media is usually disseminated more quickly than awareness. There is a risk of panic, especially in teenagers, due to unproven beliefs regarding menstrual products or personal hygiene. The issue, then, is to employ media not only as a vehicle of marketing but also as a vehicle of proper education.
Media as a Tool for Empowerment
The media still remains one of the most potent tools to banish menstrual stigma and promote menstrual literacy despite its pitfalls. With news sources emphasising the lack of sanitary products in rural regions, and influencers talking about sustainable menstruation on their social media, the situation is evolving.
The objective of a menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiative is to make sure that menstrual discourses shift towards empowerment rather than shame.
Media may play an active role in banishing menstrual stigma by doing the following:
- Partnering with schools and public health departments to create awareness videos and infographics about menstrual health and hygiene.
- Featuring menstruation in regular storylines without attaching shame or secrecy..
- Encouraging hashtags that celebrate body positivity and menstrual health awareness..
- Putting into the limelight the ground realities and success stories of communities where menstrual stigma is being broken.
The media can be used to sensitise the communities about the damaging impacts of menstrual taboo by spreading awareness, conducting educational programs, and discussing these issues openly.
Final Thoughts
Menstruation is both a biological fact and a social battleground in India. It takes time to go from silence to acceptance, but it is possible with continued media influence. Every movie, campaign, and conversation that breaks the menstrual taboo brings us one step closer to making it normal. To improve menstrual health and hygiene across the country, it is important to understand how these things are all connected. We can make sure that future generations see menstruation as normal and not shameful by encouraging informed conversations. The media has the power to change the way people think about menstruation in India. Let us use that voice to banish menstrual stigma, raise awareness, and celebrate period health.