Are youth trends going to extremes? 

Youth trends often take many twists and turns with influential sources like social media. Out of the many topics that we usually come across, an emerging topic on social media is ‘period shaming’. It is nothing new for us to see cartoons and photos on social media sites with different messages on how girls react during their period and the like.

A while back, a woman posted a photo on Instagram showing her clothes and bed after her period claiming she wasn't doing it to be purposely provocative. The site removed the photo twice before Rupi Kaur, from Toronto, challenged them.

Most recently Harvard Business School graduate, Kiran Gandhi, 26, ran the London marathon while menstruating without the aid of feminine hygiene products, and proudly displayed her period stained running pants in photos.  Gandhi said she wants to end the embarrassment over menstruation, as well as to bring awareness that there are underprivileged women who can’t afford costly pads and tampons. Additionally, she wants acknowledgement that every month women suffer with pain and cramping, yet must carry on as if it doesn’t exist.

The runner's story went viral and while many people understood her actions, others called it a stunt and questioned why she didn't raise awareness another way. Comments varied from ‘Shitting is a normal human thing that 100% of the world does, how about if I get diarrhea I'll go run a marathon, yeah?’ to ‘I have literally never heard of anyone being shamed for having a period. Let's focus on real problems, please’ and ‘Firstly, WTF is 'period shaming'? I am a 45 year old woman and have never experienced this. Secondly, you became a running biohazard with your ridiculous display. Good job not giving a crap about the health and well- being of anyone other than yourself.’

While there has been much debate and criticisms have been circulated on social media sites. Taking matters of privacy, rights and discipline in to consideration, the Daily Mirror Life listened to a few young voices on this trend.

Comments  

Sherwani Synon

Menstruation is a normal thing and there's nothing to be ashamed about. I think it's something we need to incorporate in our conversations. For the longest time, I was really shy to talk about periods and such thing but then it’s a part and parcel of being a woman and there's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. In fact more men should be educated on it and they should learn not to have any reservations about it.

Jay

The Internet has given rise to a plethora of pseudo activists. This silly trend could be attributed to these phenomena. While I have no qualms about a woman getting her period, there is absolutely no necessity to publish pictures of blood stains. Nowhere would a woman face discrimination due to her menstruating. These are not real world problems.

Madushani

It is something that is quite private. I don’t think our parents would ever go round talking about it in public. But today such abnormal things have become normal.

Prabath

It is quite absurd to see these on social media.

Sasanga

Rather disgusting and I feel that younger generations are giving a new meaning to the word ‘privacy’.

Lalani

In the Sri Lankan context I would say that talking about your period would be something way too extreme and personal. In European countries it must be perceived differently but I think these kinds of things shouldn’t be discussed in public.

Gayan

It is a right like every other woman’s right but it is not a very serious thing to be discussed since it is something that is already there in a female life cycle.

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja