Shh… you are on periods: Why do we treat menses as a disease?

The recent menstruation strip-search in Kerala’s factory has highlighted the presence of one of the biggest taboos in our Indian society.

In the fear of God

Chitradurga: “Don’t touch me! Nobody is supposed to touch me,” blurted Sumitra, a teenage girl who was sitting alone on a roadside under the scorching sun in Madappana Halli, Chitradurga, reasoning that she is ‘impure’, a situation usually used to define menstruation cycle in Gollar community. Gollar community comprises 1.3 percent population of Chitradurga district in…

Vox Pop- Why do women stay silent?

Being an independent 22-year old aspiring journalist living alone in South India, some odd 1000-kilometre away from home, I am fully aware of the difficulties a woman faces daily. Being victim of a sexual harassment is a common thing differing only in its magnitude. Being pushed, touched, getting unwanted comments, physical abuse are all forms…