Women Classified!
In Coimbatore, an eighth-grade child was asked to write an exam outside the classroom, seated on the floor near the entrance, citing menstruation. This created a huge ruckus among the public, who demanded an explanation for the school’s inappropriate act. This was coupled with fears of possible caste discrimination as well. This incident reminded me of my teenage years when I had to fight all the menstrual taboos in my family. At the time of puberty, besides the fear of bodily changes, I faced the mental anguish of following various taboos tied to it. My mother seemed completely different in her approach. She asked me to take a week off from school, which was a big shock to a girl who was always hesitant to miss class. I vehemently opposed whatever came my way. For the first time, I felt my independence was completely stripped away. I incidentally sensed from my friends’ experiences that there might be plans for a ceremony or function. My friends had all enjoyed those instances and sha...