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Have you ever asked yourself why the media uses blue to denote blood in adverts? What's wrong with red? Is red a bad colour?
So even the media subtly encourages period shame. For generations menstruation has been looked at as, a disgusting topic.
Women and girls in different parts of the world have been subjected to the most gruesome conditions because they have periods.
Many have died and continue to die because of these inhumane conditions they are forced to live by during their periods.
Most cultures and religions have negatively depicted menstruation and it's effects on women. This has resulted to the false myths many dutifully believe now.
Below are five taboos that still exists and five that happened in the medieval times.
1. A girl or woman menstruating is impure, dirty, can bring bad luck to not just her family but community,
so she must be exiled to the outskirts of the community for the reminder of her period ~ Menstrual huts.
2. A woman or girl shouldn't wash herself during her period because it could contaminate the water in streams, rivers or communal bathing areas.
3. A woman/girl menstruating must not join others to fast and/or pray in the temples or religious places of worship.
4. Women and girls on their period cannot touch the food meant for the family.
5. Women must avoid having s.e.x during their periods because it could result to infertility and the deaths of their husbands.
Number six to ten was believed during the medieval times.
6. A child conceived during menstruation will be destructive and evil.
7. If a p.e.n.i.s touches menstrual blood, it would burn, become gangrenous then fall off.
8. Menstrual blood could make plants and insects die.
9. Drinking menstrual blood will cause leprosy
10. Menstruation is seen as a punishment from God.
To break the taboo around menstruation girls should be enlightened about it before they start their periods. Boys and the community as a whole must be sensitised about menstrual health and hygiene, regularly. It should also be added to the curriculum in schools.