If you're still hiding your sanitary napkins in black polythene, it's time you hear this teenager's monologue on menstruation

It's time we broke the silence around menstruation. Photo Courtesy: Facebook/MenstrualHygieneDayIndia

How many times have you wished that your chemist wouldn't wrap that packet of sanitary napkins in a bag, as if it's something to be ashamed of? If you muttered a thousand times under your breath, then let us tell you that you are not alone.

While we have recently seen many conversations about menstruation that try to break the stigma around--be it through films or bike rallies, not much is changing on the ground level. However, that doesn't mean that we stop talking about menstruation as it is just a bodily process that affects every woman in the world.

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To carry this conversation forward, a 18-year-old Indian girl recently shared a monologue that questions why periods should limit women. The monologue titled To Bleed Without Violence, which was shared on Menstrual Hygiene Day India's Facebook page details how women are shamed for bleeding.

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In her poem, Aranya Johar says that menstruation is the only blood that is shed without violence, however the society still considers it a taboo. She says that periods shouldn't be seen as a sign of weakness or be hidden and instead of stopping women from doing what they want, they should be encouraged.

She goes on to add that as a society we all need to make sure that a period shouldn't mean a full stop for women.

According to a 2016 UNESCO report, over 20% of girls in India drop out of school due to menstruation. While, women in rural India are still oblivious about menstrual hygiene and sanitary products.

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This is why talking about menstruation and Johar's monologue is extremely relevant. We can only hope that it can get us to talk about menstruation and stop considering it a taboo ourselves.

You can watch the monologue here.