Cycle of Monthly Discrimination

Menstruating women in Rajasthan are imposed with certain restrictions pertaining to food and mobility.

In almost all parts of India, during menstruation, women are forced to behave in a certain way. They are not supposed to make food or touch water that others will drink, enter sacred places like temples and in some circumstances are made to sleep in different rooms on different bedding. It is widely believed that during this time, women are dirty and impure and risk contaminating things that they touch.

Although Sunita believes that this is clearly a form of discrimination, she says some things are so deeply ingrained in the mind that they will never be questioned or debated. Sunita herself adheres to these restrictions because her in-laws insist on them, and because somewhere, she deeply believes that going against these rules will incur the wrath of the gods. “We were told when we were young that we could get possessed during this time by evil spirits. Bad things would happen to us if we didn’t follow the traditions. Like maybe my husband would have an accident. Or my children would fall sick. When you are brought up with these beliefs, it is hard to think differently.”

The situation, however, is slowly changing. One of the reasons is that women had to serve guests who visited because the men wouldn’t, even if they were on their periods. When, after a while, nothing terrible happened they began to question why they couldn’t cook the food if they had to serve it anyway. Working women are also altering their behavior and continuing their normal routines when menstruating. The only exception, Sunita says, is that they still won’t enter temples or light the sacred lamps at home. “No one does that, still.”

“I want to bring up my daughters differently, I don’t want to tell them all these things we were told when we matured. I wish other women would also do it like this,” says Sunita.

Sunita Kasera
I live in Karauli, Rajasthan with my husband and children. I was in the process of completing my Master’s degree when I got married. My father promised me that I could continue my studies after marriage, but my in-laws didn’t allow it. So in the beginning I was a housewife confined to four walls. But my husband is very supportive and as our family grew, I needed to earn so I started working for an NGO dealing with empowerment of women, water harvesting and informing people about public schemes available. I’ve always had a lot of interest in politics and development, and when I heard about Video Volunteers I decided to apply. Since I started making videos, I have become well known in my locality. I talk to a lot of people from all backgrounds, people approach me with problems and this makes me feel good, like I’m doing something. I love meeting people and researching stories. I am now in contact with several government officials, and I was the first women to be invited to join the Press Committee and it makes me feel proud.

Sunita Kasera has produced 35 stories for us.

One Response to “Cycle of Monthly Discrimination”

1. Rohit says:

   July 19, 2011 at 11:54 am

   Jab kisi aurat ko 4 din khuch karane nahi diya jata us waqt unhe aaram diya ja raha hain aisi bhawana karani chahiye…agar hum bharat ka itihaas dekhen to sabse puratan bharatiya sanskruti hain…kyunki humne khuch aisi paramparaye apanayee, jisase pura samaj sukhi rahe….jaise jaise hum yeh parampara sambhalana chod denge, hamare samaj par bhi sankat aayenge…..Jis naari me pura ghar, ghar ke sabhi kaam karane ki jimedari hoti hain, use nibhane ki shakti hoti hain, use 4 din aaram mile to usme kya dukh hain??? is waqt insomnia, fatigue,memory problems wagaira bhi ho sakate hain aisa aajka science batata hain,( http://youtu.be/yDPn97xVfk8 ) to is waqt nari manasik rupase aur sharirik rupse thaki huvi hoti hain….to use aaram dena kya galat hain????