Period Matters: Menstruation in South Asia

by Farah Ahamed

A pathbreaking anthology on the diverse experiences of menstruation in South Asia.



Menstruation, despite being a healthy and fundamental bodily process, is a topic often buried in fear and shame, and its discussion is even taboo in many societies. But a worldwide effort to bring conversations about menstruation and menstrual health into the open is now firmly underway. Period Matters carries this important endeavour forward by bringing together a breadth of perspectives from well-known figures as well as those whose voices are missing from the mainstream. Essays, artwork, stories and poems from policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, activists, as well as interviews with those at the margins, such as the homeless and those living with disabilities, explore myriad aspects of how menstruation is experienced in South Asia.

While activist Granaz Baloch narrates how she defied traditional notions of tribal honour and conducted the first-ever menstrual health workshop in Balochistan, Radha Paudel writes about her mission to have menstrual dignity acknowledged as a human right in Nepal. Shashi Tharoor relays his radical Menstrual Rights Bill which was tabled in the Lok Sabha in the Indian parliament. We hear from Erum about the challenges of getting one’s period when incarcerated, as Farzana and Chandan relate how mimicking the rituals of menstruation helps them feel more feminine as transwomen. Tishani Doshi breaks new ground with a poem about her uterus. Ayra Indrias Patras describes how some poor women in Pakistan managed their period during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aditi Gupta reflects on promoting menstrual literacy among young children across India through the Menstrupedia comic books. In a personal essay, Lisa Ray reveals how her illness triggered an early onset of menopause.

The book also showcases menstrala, or art inspired by menstruation, ranging from Rupi Kaur’s iconic photo essay, Anish Kapoor’s oil paintings, Shahzia Sikander’s neo-miniaturist art, photographs of wall murals made by young people in Jharkhand, to Sarah Naqvi’s embroidery. Amna Mawaz Khan offers a perspective through the choreography of her menstrual dance.

A collection of breathtaking scope and significance, Period Matters illustrates with power, purpose and creativity both the variances and commonalities of menstruation.



AAKAR INNOVATIONS

FARAH AHAMED

GRANAZ BALOCH

SIBA BARKATAKI

ALNOOR BHIMANI

SRILEKHA CHAKRABORTY

SHASHI DESHPANDE

TISHANI DOSHI

LYLA FREECHILD

ZINTHIYA GANESHPANCHAN

GOONJ

ANISH KAPOOR

RUPI KAUR

K. MADAVANE

AMNA MAWAZ KHAN

MENSTRUPEDIA

SARAH NAQVI

AYRA INDRIAS PATRAS

VICTORIA PATRICK

RADHA PAUDEL

RADHIKA RADHAKRISHNAN

LISA RAY

MARIAM SIAR

SHAHZIA SIKANDER

SHASHI THAROOR

MEERA TIWARI

TASHI ZANGMO

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2022

Reviews

[Avani ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Period Matters, analogy on the diverse experiences of menstruation in South Asia, edited by Farah Ahamed. It is a collection of essays, stories, interviews, poetry and much more.

We get to hear some stories from India, Pakistan, Nepal as well as other parts of Asia. The book also starts with Menstruation practices in Sri Lanka and how we get to see some innovations and changes across generations from 20-30 years back till today.

The book is very shocking and insightful at the same time. The poems mentioned in this book are very well written and narrated. I truly devoured reading this book and I think many more people need to read this book.

[Anum Shaharyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, if for no reason other than the fact that it talks about periods, this book gets an extra star from me.

Given the stigma around the entire thing, around a natural body process that girls and even boys should be better informed about, it’s amazing to me that an entire book talking about periods even exists. I remember how hush hush the entire thing was when I was growing up, the matter kept very much under wraps. Literally, in some cases, such as when when we would go to buy pads, and right next to the rack of sanitary napkins each shop would stack brown paper bags, which you were supposed to stuff the pads inside and surreptitiously pass to the shopkeeper so he could scan it with his own equally surreptitious awkwardness shining through, and the whole process would just be an exercise in misery.

I remember, much later when pads were available in shops, my mother whispering to the shopkeeper, asking him for a packet of pads. He would wrap it in a newspaper or a brown bag, and tie it with a string, and put it together with the rest of our groceries. With the arrival of supermarkets and pharmacies, the practice of wrapping pads in a brown bag has become less common, but it is still done in many places. In some cases, women specifically ask for it.

I can still very clearly recall my amazement when a relative of mine, having lived in Saudi Arabia her whole life, told me there was no such thing in the city she grew up in. This was particularly shocking because for me this idea of periods as something shameful and worthy of hiding was somehow intricately linked to not only the culture of our desi lives, but also to religion, and so to me the entire country of Saudi Arabia, where our holiest buildings are located, should have been the epitome of these religious injunctions.

“Women don’t pray on periods. Women don’t fast on periods,” it was said, as if to say, “You are disgusting when you are bleeding.” It was only later that I realized how much more convenient it was that I managed to catch a break from any form of physical activity during my periods, but all through my teen years the idea of the break was not presented as a gift to women, as a blessing, but rather as a punishment, for a crime they had absolutely no control over.

Since ancient times, the menstrual cycle has been viewed as impure and menstruating women were not welcomed in the inner sanctums of some designated temples. This was to maintain the hygiene and purity of the space. While some argue that this segregation is an extreme form of gender discrimination, I instead see it as an old custom, a prescribed and practised tradition. For instance, in some temples in northern Thailand, women have adopted self-imposed restrictions which prevent them from circumambulating religious monuments such as stupas (even though one cannot find such restrictions in the actual Buddhist texts).

But this idea of the shame around periods and the inability to talk about them is particularly funny since the Quran itself, ostensibly the religious book that all Muslims should be reading, mentions periods itself in pretty much as clear a manner as possible. Not only are there ayats in the book mentioning menstruating women, there are also hadiths which cover sexual relationships during a woman's menses. If our literal prophet, the most important man in our religion, could find it in himself to talk about periods, aren’t Muslim men supposed to follow his life, to live with him as an example?

Important to this discussion is the understanding that such menstrual taboos across cultures are aspects of a ritual of purity and contamination and play a role in cementing women’s subjugated position in society, forming a basis for control over their sexuality. An impact of these deeply ingrained cultural practices is that women are socialized from a young age to believe that they are impure and dirty during their menstrual cycles. Like all physical processes that have to do with sex and childbirth, menstruation is considered a private activity and a public acknowledgement of the same is stigmatized.

This inability to talk about sex and periods was such a problem that situations that would seem laughable are situations I have lived through. I still remember one particular day at work when I was sitting with a bunch of friends in the cafeteria and someone dropped the bomb about a recently-married woman who was unaware that female bodies possessed three holes instead of two. The specifics of the person themselves escape me: was it a friend’s sister, or her neighbor, or some far-off distant relative who had expressed this lack of knowledge? Who they were doesn’t matter; what was more important was the shocking revelation that a woman in her twenties could actually be that ignorant about her own body.

“So does she think women pee and have sex through the same hole?” I remember asking, still laughing in horror, and the affirmative reply nearly made me fall off my chair.

Was it possible to know this little about one’s own body?

‘I grew up never thinking much about my period. My mother had explained to me what to do, and I accepted it. We use old clothes, which we cut to make cloth pads. The men don’t interfere with the women’s business, so my husband never asks me about my period. My periods were irregular, but I didn’t care. Whether I bled or didn’t, I didn’t take notice. It was only after I got married that I was told that periods were related to getting pregnant. Before that, nobody had told me, and I didn’t know the two things were connected.

But is it fair to shame women for not knowing? On Facebook there’s this group where desi women come together to share problems, rant about issues, and in general talk about all kinds of things related to their personal lives. It’s a lovely little online community, if a tad bit unconventional, and it’s run by a woman who is intolerant of bullying and regressive behavior, of which there is quite a lot in the comments. This nastiness shines through particularly when women ask questions or share anecdotes related to their bodies, and what anecdotes they have! Horrible, traumatizing stories, of first nights when their husbands forced their attention on them, of bleeding and hospital visits, of an inability to understand the changes occurring in their own bodies and no guiding light to explain what was happening. And while some in the comments are sympathetic, others go into attack mode.

“It’s your fault for not knowing these basics!” the comments will say, as if girls don’t spend years being told not to talk about these things, not to ask questions, to shut up and stay quiet. “Google is at your fingertips! You can search for the latest clothes to buy but not for information about your own body!” the keyboard warriors will froth at the mouth, as if it’s really that simple.

In my own home in Bengal, unless I told her, my mother would never know whether I was menstruating. However, I found the Santali girls were very open with their peers and knew who among their friends, sisters or cousins were on their cycle. When I asked why their mothers were the last to know, one girl said, ‘We’re too shy; we’re told never to discuss it with anyone, so we don’t even tell our mothers.’

This idea that women, with the online world on their fingertips, will start googling issues about their bodies, is so laughable that it’s surprising to me that anyone can take it seriously. Even if you don’t take into account the lack of access to education/a steady internet connection, or a desire to use these to find out more about periods, you have to understand that so many of these women who grow up to be ignorant adults were once girls who were taught to never, ever, ever talk about periods, or about sex, or about anything at all related to their bodies. These dynamics at play require empathy and an attempt at course correction, not censure and haughtiness.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that shaming women about not knowing enough about their own bodies is ridiculous. You only have to try pitching the idea of a sex education class to absolutely any adult around you and watch their horrified faces to see how complicated the idea of any discussion about our own bodies is bound to be. There’s so much shy mortification at even the idea of sex that it’s a wonder anyone in our communities ever manage to have kids. I still vividly remember the moment in eighth grade math class when we first began studying geometric figure calculations and our teacher wrote the word Mensuration in capital letters on the board, causing all the girls in the class to give each other horrified, giggly looks. We genuinely believed the teacher might have gone slightly mad, and had to spend months — months! — twisting into paroxysms of laughter and disbelief every time he brought it up, until someone told us the difference between Mensuration and Menstruation.

Who could have known that such a simple difference in spellings could have caused so many of us such misery, all intertwined into this complicated mix of embarrassment and hilarity?

In those days, everything related to the body was considered to be mysterious. People were secretive and did not expose any part of it. This was especially true for girls. We were embarrassed to lift our dresses and expose our ankles, even to keep our clothes from getting wet or muddy, on rainy days. There was no such thing as sex education. Nobody told us how our bodies would change during puberty or what happened when girls began to menstruate or what to do.

This not knowing, this not talking, really doesn’t do anyone any good. It would make sense to me if not talking about it served a purpose, protected children from trauma, was covered up and hushed up for a reason. But by not talking about periods, we do ourselves such a disservice, because it’s hard to explain how absolutely mind-boggling their effect can be. Just the other day I was frying eggs as my husband made tea. Suffering slightly from cramps and a little distracted because of the ensuing pain, I calmly took out the sugar container for the tea and the salt container for the egg. And then, with absolutely no hesitation, sprinkled the sugar all over the egg. It was only two seconds before I was about to add the salt to the tea that I had to pause and think about what I was doing.

“Period brain,” I told my husband, who shrugged and ate the egg happily. “Tastes fine to me,” he said, making me almost cry at the realization that I had found such a good man.

Is he a great husband? Absolutely. But was that worth crying about on a random Saturday morning over sugary eggs? In retrospect I certainly don’t think so, but periods can do that to you. They mess with their body and they mess with your brain, and you’re lucky if you escape unscathed. While growing up, I had the worst cramps and resented an elder cousin who would suffer mood swings but physically sailed through the process unscathed. As a grown adult whose mood now very regularly plummets on the first day of her periods, I can’t believe I used to think I had the better end of the deal.

I explained it to my husband in the form of a dial. “Imagine that on a normal day I’m here,” I told him, holding a finger straight up. “Now imagine we’re having fun, we’re at a party, we’re going out. My energy is higher.” I moved my finger to the right. “And now it’s my first day of periods.” With a jerk, I wrenched my finger all the way to the other side, pointing downwards. “It’s not that I don’t have the energy for normal things on this day. I have the energy for absolutely anything. Forget laughing, I don’t even want to smile because that requires moving the muscles of my face, and I don’t want to put any effort into doing that.”

At what point is it alarming that you’re writhing in pain? There are multiple stories online about girls who were told that periods are painful, and so continued to suffer in pain, not realizing that the threshold they had crossed had gone into alarming territory. I was told the same thing, and lived the same way, spending a few days every month curled up in bed with hot water bottles and what felt like a screwdriver twisting through my lower body, unable and unwilling to do absolutely anything.

From a young age, women are enculturated to tolerate abnormal amounts of pain as though it were normal. A ‘good girl’ grits her teeth and gets through pain. Many of us are told right from the time of our first period cycle that it is going to hurt, and that we have to be strong enough to get through it. With such an initiation into menstruation, young girls’ ability to recognize unnaturally severe period pain is thwarted. In fact, enduring pain in silence is so commonplace that no one takes a woman’s complaints seriously. At what point is one supposed to stop tolerating it and consult a doctor, especially when everyone says we’re supposed to put up with it?

This idea that women can be suffering through the worst cramps and will just put on their game faces has always amazed me, given how all I want during that particular week of the month is for everyone to just go away and leave me alone. And still there are women out there, standing up in front of thousands to present or sing or make speeches, dancing on stages, playing in Olympic games and attending large sales conferences and doing a million other things while tolerating the sort of mental and physical exhaustion that makes you not want to leave the bed.

At the end of the day, sometimes it is only this, the act of the bleeding itself, that connects me to the girl on her first period, the transwoman dealing with sanitary products, the older woman hitting menopause, the poor woman with no access to pads, the frightened woman in a war zone, and on and on, all of us all over the world literally bleeding out every month as we go about our lives, pretending it’s not a thing we are forcing ourselves to push through.

There are over forty types of restrictions related to food, touch, mobility and participation in day-to-day activities which are imposed across the country regardless of the menstruator’s class, caste, education, geographical location and religion. The differences lie in the name, form and magnitude. Menstruators are not allowed to go out, attend cultural gatherings or even go to school for about five to seven days every month. Considered to be untouchable and impure during this period, they are also not permitted to participate in sacred rituals. Bathing is forbidden and the menstrual clothes are washed and dried privately and separately. They are also restricted from touching plants that bear fruits and vegetables for fear of contamination and kept out of the kitchen, temples and gardens. There are also dietary constraints, and sour foods and milk products are out of bounds during one’s menstrual cycle.

In conclusion, having not talked about this book AT ALL, I can only encourage people to read it. It’s so good, in so many different ways. It talks about menstruation but not just that: it talks about how we live through wars and changing constitutions, about the desperation that rules the lives of human beings and the ways in which we connect with each other. It talks, through stories and anecdotes and explanations of art, how there are things that bind all of us together. It mentions poverty and culture and the people working tirelessly to make the lives of others easier.

READ THIS BOOK. That’s my recommendation. Give it to your sisters, your cousins, your best friends, all the women you know, and if you dare, give it to the men in your lives. Talk about this thing that so few mention out loud, because it is a part of our lives, and when we don’t voice what we go through, we do ourselves a disservice. Honor yourself by reading books like these. Honor even the parts that feel drenched in secrecy and shadows, parts that shame you or that you have been taught to feel guilty about. Props to Farah Ahamed for this project, and to all the people who took part in it, and I only wish this book had a bigger reach, or that books talking about periods become more and more common as the days pass. With this beginning, we can only go in a better direction.

Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book from the editor in exchange for an honest review.

***

I review Pakistani Fiction, and talk about Pakistani fiction, and want to talk to people who like to talk about fiction (Pakistani and otherwise, take your pick.) To read more reviews or just contact me so you can talk about books, check out my Blog or follow me on Twitter!

[Saumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Menstruation brings its own set of problems and challenges in the lives of little girls and women which is multiplied for women living in south Asian countries because of the lack of resources and facilities. In India and its neighbouring countries. Periods are taboo, menstruation is some type of a curse or witch hunt or a festive celebration or worse the time to get married (Afghanistan). During "this time of the month" a lot of restrictions are held on girls and women, they cannot eat their favourite food, cannot worship or visit any place of worship, have to stay away from pickles and spicy chutneys, sleep on the floor on mats and stay away from boys or men because they are considered to be impure and it is contagious. {like what not}

As a kid, I was lucky enough since my school took the responsibility to educate us regarding the menstruation cycle and puberty but I have realized that many of us including my cousins were horrified when they got their first periods. It is worse for people living outside metros or Tier 2 cities, where the Internet and educating themselves on this subject is hard where people still consider periods a taboo and lack of resources and facilities make it worse for their personal hygiene. Through this book I learned, that sanitary pads and personal hygiene products are not available everywhere, people still use cotton rags and cotton to protect the leak, the condition is worst for refugee women who do not even have the luxury to afford rags or water to wash it peacefully.

The experience shared in this book are still relevant in today's time, I mean just imagine, people are moving forward but no one is bothered to educate themselves regarding this matter. I have already lost hope in our education system and I feel the internet could be a great medium for people to get educated, Few of the doctor influencers on Instagram and Youtube are kind enough to educate young girls and women regarding this matter.

Personally, I feel, Farah Ahamed did a great job of compiling essays, poems and short stories by different authors. I enjoyed reading the poems by Tishani Doshi and the article by Shashi Tharoor.

[Krutika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back when I was in the seventh grade I took a vacation with my friend's family having absolutely no idea that I'd come back as a woman. I thought I was going to die when we took a pit stop at a small restaurant on the way to our destination when I found myself to be bleeding. I was frightened but also acutely shy to ask my friend's mother about what was happening to me. It was her and not my mother who taught me how to use a sanitary napkin. I still had many questions but saved them for later, so that I could go home and ask my mother about it. But this whole experience left me so flustered and unprepared.

In Period Matters, Farah Ahamed has diligently collected many such stories and plights of women who have been tackling menstruation. Much like my own story, young girls are often not educated about how bodies evolve during puberty and are left clueless only to be explained after it happens. Many countries follow similar rituals, forbidding women from entering the kitchen or even from touching anything. She interviews many women from different economic backgrounds to see how it affects them. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that we are living in the 21st century and still practice such senseless rituals.

Period Matters is an extensively researched book, one that successfully puts forth its purpose to the readers. There's also some incredible art displayed in these pages that celebrates women's bodies and this natural phenomenon.

I certainly recommend this.

Thank you for having me on the blog tour and for sending across this copy @panmacmillanindia ✨

[Sushma | thegeekybookreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Menstruation is not a rite of passage to adulthood; it is a sharp knife that flashes down, separating the girl from the woman in a moment. “– Shashi Deshpande, Menstrual matters.

Periods – a ‘taboo’ concept in India even in the 21st century, It's no surprise to see only a few authors daring to write on this very controversial subject. For someone having fair knowledge of this subject, I indulged in this book with high expectations and I genuinely thank Farah Ahamed for writing this bold and thought-provoking book about Menstruation and the topics around it.

Periods Matter- My first ever book on Periods, was truly an eye-opener read. All the mentioned essays, interviews, and stories in the book beautifully explain the experiences of menstruators of different cultural backgrounds around South Asia. It also talks about the difficulties these people face during their menses because of the lack of knowledge and the bare minimum facilities available. I appreciate Farah in this term because she also goes one step above to include how periods are like with Trans and autistic women too.

The story about Menstrupedia- a comic book guide to Menstruation, or the story about Anandi- a compostable and biodegradable Pad company in India, or about the country’s Menstrual rights bill- Farah has beautifully portrayed the struggles and stories of every South Asian going through Menses and tries to impart light around this subject effortlessly. Best of all Raqs-e-Mahvaari- A stunning Dance about Menstruation and the breathtaking period art collection inside the book definitely took it up to a notch.

Periods Matter is undoubtedly, an insightful and wisely written book on Periods, and I would recommend everyone to read this brilliant compilation for its sheer simplicity and ease of understanding Menstruation altogether.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well curated collection that includes several pieces by its editor Farah Ahamed. While it's subtitle specifies South Asia, it's a book that will speak to all parts of the world.

[Meera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely breathtaking. Farah has curated an artistic and creative collection of work related to menstruation that teaches you about different cultural backgrounds and leaves you feeling inspired through poetry, art and dance (!). It feels extraordinarily relevant - with commentary on period tracking apps and new forms of technology. And it does not hide from the complexity of different traditions and different experiences across South Asia. A must-read!

[Dalia (book_o_creativity) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we don't understand something, we tend to label it as bad. Despite being a healthy biological process, menstruation remains a source of fear and shame for many. This tabboo is being carried through generation by millions of people, varying in form or severity. Women are biased and discriminated due to widespread misconceptions about it. These misconceptions lead to harsh treatments of women and deny them of their basic human rights of a clean, hygienic life. This is nothing but failure of our society. "Period Matters" is a provocating account of menstruation from diverse perspectives who have tried their best to educate and empower the society about menstruation. It's a narrative of many voices exploring the myriad aspects of menstruation in South Asia, shedding light on cultural, social, and personal experiences.

"Period Matters" is a nonfiction book narrating tales of period in South Asia. This book contains essays, interviews, poetries and art, relating to one of the most important biological processes of women's body. Each story depicts various scenarios where women are subjected to shame and discrimination and how, many of them are working on resolving this issue. Through these stories, the book challenges prevailing myths, advocating menstrual health and hygiene, and promotes a more informed and compassionate understanding of menstruation. I like how the book took various forms of expression like art, dance, prose and poetry from different regions and compiled them to showcase an uniform picture, this not only gave me a better understanding of the problem from grassroot level but also helped me to understand the severity of it. This book made me a more empathetic and grateful person, as I understood how privileged I am to have access to feminine hygiene products.

The book has done a great job in coming into existence and spreading awareness about period. I find it is a topic often overlooked by many of us even though we know the necessity of discussing it openly. To talk about the writing, it has been kept simple thus everyone can read it. It was an eye opener for sure. I recommended this book to everyone.

[Neemah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as her sister, I did not know the rich tapestry Farah was weaving in this collection, so as far as I’d possible, this review is as unbiased as it can be.

As I read through it, I realised each piece had a unique thread running through it. It’s depicted in the way menstruation is described and portrayed, through art, dance, poetry, fiction, analogies, interviews and metaphors.

Shashi Deshpande’s analogy of menstrual cycle as a performance, ‘the play of hormones…. each bowing gracefully out, allowing another to take its place in the dance’, has stayed with me. Like Lisa Ray admits, in her honest and raw essay, I have never really paid attention to the different stages of my cycle. I let each play out in the background stage. It was this image of giving recognition to the hormones, giving them centre stage, that made the cycle more real for me.

The image of the performance of hormones contrasts to the way Farah describes in her essay ‘Homa Istrizia Azan Asan’ how the women use the time of their period to spend time in a sanctuary, ‘The Banshali’, where they can be, to paraphrase Virginia Woolf, as Farah quotes, ‘by themselves, for themselves.’

The book shows how our lived experiences as women, as individual as they made, solidify sisterhood, not only during menstruation (as seen by the way women share rags in the prisons), but also during menopause.

The unique threads that run through each chapter has enriched the way I continue to understand menstruation and make sense of it in my own reality.

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly important and brave book.
The selection of writings have been meticulously and discerningly compiled to result in a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner.

Rarely does such an educational book leave you heartbroken and then laughing moments later. A must read for everyone interested in understanding humanity.

[BOOKSTHATSTAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi! Organized by the Global South Coalition, today, i.e. 8th December, is being celebrated as the 4th International Dignified Menstruation Day. It is different from Menstrual Hygiene Day as it covers all the aspects of menstrual discrimination throughout the life of menstruators. And I couldn't think of a better book to post today than #PeriodMatters by @farahahamedauthor ❤❤

"The originality of Period Matters lies in how disparate genres and forms of art and writing in this collection illustrate both the variances and commonality of the experience."

This incredible anthology contains stories, essays, interviews, poems, and art on menstruation. It was through this book that I got to know about Menstrala, which is art inspired by menstruation. I found it to be fascinating and powerful! The menstrala showcased in this book ranges from Rupi Kaur's iconic photo essay, Anish Kapoor's oil paintings, Shahzia Sikander's neo - miniaturist art, photographs of wall murals made by young people in Jharkhand, to Sarah Naqvi's embroidery. There's also a brilliantly choreographed dance by Amna Mawaz Khan that offers a new perspective on menstruation.

This book has not only mentioned the steps that have already been taken in breaking the taboo around menstruation but has also mentioned the steps that can be further taken to provide menstrual education and resources for proper hygiene and health.

I felt so happy and lucky when I first read this book a few weeks back. It gave me hope for a better future! I so wish to have read this as a teenager. It would have helped me a lot. When I read the stories and the poems, I felt seen. The shame you feel when you get a stain is very real and the very extreme measures one takes to just keep it a secret only do harm to both physical and mental health. This book is revolutionary and powerful, and I so wish that more and more people read it. Especially the teenagers who are still trying to figure out why there is so much shame and secrecy associated with a completely natural biological process.❤❤❤

[Kaviiiii Krish · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I bleed, not just painfully, but proudly"

Being born as a girl child always accompanies with frowned eyebrows or tensed eyes. As being a girl child means you will have to pay for all her bills till marriage and during marriage, send her off well in terms of dowry. But whereas for boys, they're born and by marriage they bring in money. So it's always feasible to have boys. See how lives are merely values in terms of money. This is not something that I said, but eventually I learnt this from my society. Hopefully things are changing.

Being a lady comes along with lots of pain, sacrifices, ill treatment and sushing of periods that are normalised. Let me make this clear, TALKING ABOUT PERIODS DOESNT MAKE A GIRL OR A BOY IMPURE. ALSO TALKING OPENLY ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH IRRESPECTIVE OF GENDER DOESNT MAKE ANYONE A SLUT. This was much needed. Feels really good(sigh)

Coming to this book sent by pan Mac millian, I was so eager to read this as I was a child who had recieved zero sex education from my home or school and later in my college life did I discover how important and inevitable is it to discuss openly about it. But also I come from a land which commented to attach a labour room with school when the authorities decided to include sex education in syllabus- this makes sense why I didn't recieve any. But realising the importance of discussing periods, period poverty, period health etc made me go for this book without any doubt. The book is a compilation of different period experiences around the globe, period expressions in the form of art and talks about gender politics and period poverty majorly.

I was fascinated to see that people, on one side are trying hard to suppress period voices while on the contrary many are trying to voice their periods. Indeed this book brings me immense joy and I would be so delighted if you too picked it up.

Share voices so that they roar,
everywhere.

[Bukonola Ngobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good books can open our minds, draw us into worlds we have not walked in, and experiences we cannot imagine, or never knew existed. 'Period Matters' is one such book; it is a pioneering and seminal anthology that captures a broad range of perspectives on menstruation in South Asia. Whilst the context of the book is South Asia, the issues and insights raised through the anthology are not unique to that region. The book acknowledges that although menstruation is a normal, natural, and healthy occurrence, it is a topic that is steeped in fear and shame in many societies, and even discussing it in some cultures is taboo. Thus, 'Period Matters' is a clarion call to destigmatize menstruation and an invitation into a deeper discourse about the lived experiences of menstruating persons, that also challenges the reader's perceptions and understanding of menstruation and how different people and communities regard it.

The book features poems, stories (fictional and non-fictional), artworks, interviews, and essays that create a window into the way menstruation is viewed by people from different socio-economic and religious backgrounds. Through the perspectives of policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, students, activists, caregivers, nuns, marginalised persons, prisoners, the rich and the poor, readers are drawn into an eye-opening sojourn that reveals and sheds light on menstrual experiences and issues that are often absent from mainstream discussions about menstruation.

'Period Matters' is a book that I will keep returning to; it's the must-read that you do not know you need to read. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in understanding different issues surrounding menstruation or anyone interested in menstrala (art inspired by menstruation).

[Nour Amin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this book whilst thinking of dissertation topics. Each chapters explores menstruation in SE Asia from so many different angles (dignity, marginalised communities e.g. lgbtq, homeless, disability...)

In almost all the cases and examples presented, menstruation is perceived as negative, something disempowering and to be embarrassed about. So much of this stigma comes from men and is used to continue to control women in a patriarchal society. Women are left on their own to deal with the symptoms and repercussions of being on their period, with no or very little support from one another. Poor accessibility to menstrual products and lack of adequate ways to deal with infections and period complications were also recurring themes.

A chapter that left an impression on me was the one by Siba Barkataki about reclaiming menstruation. (In the location - somewhere in Pakistan), menstruating women have dedicated buildings where they can take a break from day to day life. Here menstruation is seen as a bodily function and nothing to be embarrassed about. In the buildings, women speak freely of their periods, showcasing the power of open conversation in empowerment.

Each chapter is so unique and some hit really hard. Ahmed put together a remarkable range of methods of reporting menstruator’s perceptions and lived experiences, there is definitely something to learn and appreciate for everyone.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a lot of information and is very illuminating. I admire the fact that it took various forms of expression such as art, prose, and poetry from various parts of the world and brought them together to create a coherent picture. Reading this book has made me more understanding and thankful because today I am 29 years old and I realize how lucky I am to be able to access all those sanitary pads as they used to call them when we were young. The style of writing is kept easy so that anyone can read and understand this book.

There are paintings of menstrala, which is art inspired by menstruation. It ranges from an essay in pictures by Rupi Kaur, oils paintings by Anish Kapoor, neo-miniaturist art by Shahzia Sikander, to Sarah Naqvi’s embroidery. Young people’s wall murals in Jharkhand also have photographs in this book. The book also has a photo gallery of Sarah Naqvi’s embroidery. The works of Amna Mawaz Khan are seen through the choreography of her menstrual dance.

Farah Ahamed engages, enlightens, and educates on a subject that is ‘taboo,’ in a book that makes its readers feel the lives of many people easily and attractively, a book you want to read while lying on the beach. This is the kind of interesting book that can make one understand about a thing where they do not even bother about it, something readers should watch. Reading Period Matters benefits everyone.

[Tahoora Hashmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Period matters’ is a collection of Essays, Stories, Interviews, Poetry and Art that deals with the topic of Menstruation and the stigma around it specifically in South Asian Countries and it's cultures.

We might know about the struggles of a menstruating person through things we ourselves have went through or by observing the life of our family members and friends but this book dives a bit more deeper getting us a glimpse of what it's like to be menstruating person in various other situations; a woman in jail, a young girl trying to make sense of the cultural implications of her ‘curse’, a transgender whom Doctors refuse to treat, lack of government facilities, people in places hit my tsunamis and floods, having to drop out of school & be married off, a man trying to pass a bill in favour of menstruating people and being rejected and so many more.

We even get a glimpse of what it's like in the rare societies and culture that talk freely about menstruation. Where women don't need to hide anything or be embarassed about it. Where the religion and cultures believe menstruation to be sacred. The efforts to normalise the menstrual cycle through Paintings, Wall Murals, Workshops, Poetry and Fiction can all be seen through the pages

[Carolina Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of stories, investigations, experiences and projects around de topic of menstruation in different countries in Asia. All of them highlighted in some way the the influences of colonialism, sexism, politics and religion on how menstruation is lived by menstruating humans 🩸

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening look at menstruation in South Asia. We learn about taboos, stigma, menstrual health initiatives and the reality of periods from all walks of life.

[sarah mcGonagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent to see essays on nepal and sri lanka finally included this was a fantastic collection

[Florence Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Too dense, couldn’t get into it

[Nikitha Warriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read.

[Meenal · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 45%

Repetitive and slightly morbid

[Deeya thebookholicgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dive into a riveting exploration of a taboo-shattering topic that's been hidden in the shadows for far too long. "Period Matters" by Farah Ahamed isn't just a book; it's a bold revelation, a much-needed conversation starter, and a beacon of empowerment in the realm of menstruation discourse.

In a world where the narrative around menstruation has often been shrouded in silence and stigma, Farah Ahamed's "Period Matters: Menstruation in South Asia" emerges as a beacon of enlightenment. With a blend of meticulous research and poignant storytelling, Ahamed delves into the intricacies of menstrual health in the context of South Asian culture, unraveling a narrative that is both enlightening and empowering.

Ahamed wastes no time in pulling the reader into the heart of her narrative. With a compelling opening chapter, she confronts the taboo surrounding menstruation head-on, challenging societal norms and shedding light on the pervasive silence that has shrouded this natural bodily process for centuries. Through a series of poignant anecdotes and insightful interviews, Ahamed paints a vivid picture of the lived experiences of South Asian women, offering a rare glimpse into their struggles and triumphs.

One of the book's most compelling aspects is its nuanced exploration of the cultural factors that shape the perception of menstruation in South Asia. Ahamed navigates through a complex landscape of traditions, beliefs, and rituals, highlighting the diverse ways in which menstruation is perceived and experienced across different communities. From the elaborate rituals of celebration to the stark realities of menstrual taboos, Ahamed leaves no stone unturned in her quest to unravel the intricacies of this often misunderstood phenomenon.

As the book draws to a close, Ahamed leaves the reader with a sense of empowerment and agency. Through a series of actionable insights and practical tips, she encourages readers to challenge the status quo and advocate for positive change in their communities.Whether it's through education, activism, or simple acts of solidarity, Ahamed makes it clear that each of us has the power to make a difference in the fight for menstrual equity.

"Ready to challenge the status quo and break the silence surrounding menstruation?

Dive into "Period Matters" by Farah Ahamed and join the movement to normalize, educate, and empower.

Don't just read—engage, discuss, and amplify the voices that have long been silenced. Let's make periods matter!

[Varma Shagun · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞:
"A pathbreaking anthology on the diverse experiences of menstruation in South Asia."

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I really think that the book cover, which highly resonates with the content, could have been a little better. The title though, is very appropriate.
The book comes along with relevant and artistic pictures and graphics.

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
The write up is not limited to one language. The overall vocabulary used is lucid. The narration is fast paced in general. The book being an anthology, comes along with a diverse writing style and techniques.

𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧:
What impressed me the most, is that this book stands against the stereotypes and bursts the myth that goes around periods.
The content, clears out the air, explaining that it is not something to be ashamed about.
The book also talks about menopause, which I feel, is much more needed. Nowadays, periods are something that people are gradually getting comfortable with, but menopause is still a topic kept in the dark.
Further mention of authors like Elena Ferrante and Ismat Chughtai, made the book more interesting and inspiring.
There are stories, write ups, poems and poetic verses. The content is very engaging.
It can be a good pick for literally anyone. This is something that everyone, irrespective of gender, should be aware and comfortable with.