My sister, a reputed gynaecologist, rang me to inform that she had successfully completed a C-section shortly before going into labour herself. While I rushed into my car to be with her, I recalled how a few months ago, social media was flooded with debates demanding menstrual leave at workplaces. The discussion quickly gained momentum, with many women declaring these as their “three difficult days.” I found myself reflecting less on the policy and more on the mindset it was nurturing.
In my early years of professional work, including conducting workshops in remote Himalayan villages, menstruation was never something I viewed as a limitation. It was simply a natural part of life. Likewise, I also had the privilege of working alongside remarkable women who delivered excellence in every sphere without allowing their monthly cycle to define their capabilities, exhibiting the extraordinary resilience that women naturally possess. They took leave when genuinely needed but never wore womanhood as a handicap.
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From doctors and soldiers to athletes and teachers, countless women continue to inspire us by refusing to let biology become their identity.
To say this is not to undermine women who experience severe pain or medical conditions that require treatment and compassion. Such situations deserve medical care and understanding. But for the majority, menstruation is not an illness—it is a healthy sign that a woman’s body is functioning exactly as it should.
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My concern is for young girls entering adolescence. The stories we tell them today shape the relationship they build with their bodies tomorrow. If they grow up believing menstruation is a monthly disability, they may begin to fear something that has been, in fact, a natural rhythm of life for women since time immemorial and continues to be so.
Let us instead teach our daughters confidence over fear, science over myths and self-awareness over unnecessary drama. Let us educate them about hygiene and nutrition and when to seek medical advice. We must also encourage them to continue living, learning, playing and dreaming.
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Menstruation deserves neither shame nor sensationalism. It deserves acceptance, dignity and normalcy. Women are the creators of life. Let us raise a generation that embraces this natural process with strength—not apprehension.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meenu Chopra is a New Delhi-based behavioural science expert, mind wellness and parenting coach, and author, who blends scientific psychology with practical wisdom to inspire healthier, happier lives. With over two decades of experience in emotional wellbeing and psychological resilience, Meenu is a visiting Mental Health Expert to leading schools across Gurgaon/NCR. She also guides couples through conscious pregnancy journey with her holistic Garbh Sanskar programme. She is the author of ‘The Healer Within’ and ‘Wake Up Zindagi’.
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