Every young girl goes through puberty, experiencing a range of physical and emotional changes. How she and those around her handle these changes, especially menstruation, plays a crucial role in shaping her confidence. The way menstruation is treated and its long-lasting impact requires serious introspection. The story of a girl named Raakhi made me reconsider how we treat menstruation and why this needs to change immediately.
Raakhi was a spirited young girl surrounded by a close-knit group of friends. While all her friends smoothly transitioned into womanhood with the onset of menstruation, Raakhi found herself in a peculiar situation; despite being the same age, she had yet to experience her first period.
At school, the girls often whispered about their menstrual cycles, sharing stories of cramps, mood swings, and the mysteries of womanhood. Raakhi, however, remained silent, feeling like an outsider in conversations she couldn’t participate in.
As weeks turned into months, Raakhi became increasingly anxious about her delayed menstruation. She couldn’t confide in her friends, fearing their reactions or, worse, their pity. Menstruation seemed shrouded in secrecy and embarrassment, a taboo subject that no one dared to discuss openly.
One day, Raakhi learned about an awareness camp on menstruation to be conducted in a nearby colony. She wanted to attend but faced two major challenges. First, she needed permission from her mother, and second, even if she got the permission, she had to find a way to avoid public scrutiny.
After several sleepless nights devising plans, Raakhi decided to ask permission to visit a friend and attend the camp along the way. Usually comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, she chose to wear a salwar suit and dupatta, using the dupatta to cover her face. With determination, Raakhi attended the awareness camp and was relieved to learn that the onset of menstruation can happen at different ages for different girls, with any age between 8 and 16 being normal for menarche. She also learned other important information about menstruation, which empowered her.
Returning from the camp, Raakhi felt no longer sorry, under-confident, or confused about her body. Instead, she was happy and determined to share the information about menstruation with every girl she knew. She realized the immense impact such knowledge could have and was set on spreading this awareness so that no other 'late bloomer' would experience what she had gone through. Raakhi understood there was no shame in being a late bloomer and that her journey to womanhood was uniquely her own.
Determined to break the silence surrounding menstruation, Raakhi took action. With the support of her friends and teachers, she organized workshops and seminars to educate students about menstruation, breaking down taboos and dispelling myths. Raakhi hoped that awareness, acceptance, and empathy would create a culture where menstruation is no longer a taboo topic but rather a normal part of life.
Raakhi decided that when she finally got her first period, she would celebrate not only the physical milestone but also the impact she would have in challenging societal norms and promoting menstrual health awareness. Her journey empowered her and sparked a movement of change, one that would ripple through generations to come.