With the advent of modern times, the resources available for menstruating women have not only become numerous but also have undergone a miraculous change in their character. From using thick washable cloth and leaves to soak the blood in the mid-20th century, modern technology now allows us to have sanitary napkins and tampons that are disposed of after a single use. The sanitary napkins have undergone innumerable changes in their shape and functionality with the current version being introduced recently as the 1980s. Not only are they made up of a wide range of materials such as nylon and cotton but also in different sizes, thickness among other things as per our convenience. With the increase in the use of these disposable sanitary napkins and tampons, various brands such as Stayfree and Whisper have cropped up selling the same products under different names.

However, as I am here telling you with conviction that women now have access to a much wider range of sanitized products while menstruating, I can say with an equal amount of conviction that the taboos surrounding menstruation haven’t been abolished yet. Women are still not allowed to enter kitchens and temples while on their period and menstruation still exists in society as a much-tabooed topic. What’s more, is that these taboos not only exist in the rural regions of our county but also among literate people living in urban areas. Brands such as Whisper promote this silence surrounding this topic by using such a derogatory brand name. The brand name Stayfree shows to the world that women are restricted by their periods. However, the worst of it all is the “blue” coloured blood depicted in all the sanitary napkin advertisements. What are we trying to hide from the world? In a country like India where in places such as Assam, Kamakhya Devi, a menstruating goddess is worshipped, It is time we stop hiding the truth and start talking about this openly. It time to open up and un-taboo menstruation and stop regressive advertising. Let talk period, period.