It begins at home: Perception and practices of menstrual taboos among adolescent girls from selected schools in Lalitpur Metropolitan City

Abstract

Menstruation is a natural, biological phenomenon that is experienced by more than half of the world’s population. For many, it is a lived experience that comes alive socially in the form of restrictions and taboos. In Nepal, menstruation equates to ritual impurity. Although menstrual rituals are present throughout the country in many forms, academic research on the issue has mostly focused on the Chhaupadi Pratha of the Far-West. This research aimed to identify the menstrual taboos prevalent among adolescent school-going girls in a metropolitan area and trace the possible reasons for their existence. A mixed method study was conducted at two schools - a private school and a public school - in Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Data was collected among 400 girls aged 11-21 regarding the knowledge and experience of menstrual restrictions and the role of Comprehensive Sexuality Education on influencing their perceptions of the same. The quantitative phase was carried out through a questionnaire. The data collected from this phase was analyzed using IBM SPSS 20. After this, the qualitative phase was conducted using a focus group discussion and the responses have been presented in verbatim. The data gathered from both the phases were used to form the results of the study. It was concluded that the narrative of menstruation as a female problem, generational reinforcement of menstrual stigma, lack of female solidarity and self-objectification render to the longevity of such discriminatory practices. Family members, especially mothers have been found to play an important role in both helping young women manage menstruation and developing their understanding of the issue. Although formal education plays a large role in changing the perception of menstruation as taboo, the elimination of menstrual restrictions require multi-layered interventions that should start at home.