Talking Menstruation in a Muslim Household

Growing up in a rural Indian village with three sisters and a niece my age, menstruation was never spoken about. Even at 31, I realize how little I know about something that profoundly shapes the lives of women around me. This silence is not unique to me—it is the reality of countless men in my community.

In my home, like many others, women were labeled “impure” for a few days each month. They were barred from religious practices, and though I noticed their withdrawal from household chores, whispered conversations, and hidden garments drying, I never questioned why. Customs were followed blindly, leaving me oblivious.

It wasn’t until I moved to Delhi that I learned more—from peers, from social media, from conversations where menstruation was often mocked rather than understood. Terms like PMS were punchlines, and sanitary pads were things to be hidden. Yet I never asked myself: Did my sisters have enough? Did they ever miss school because of their periods?

The turning point came when my niece faced a serious menstrual issue, and I accompanied her to the doctor. For the first time, I heard menstruation explained openly, without shame. It struck me—how could I, surrounded by women my whole life, know so little about their reality?

This experience made me realize the silence around menstruation is not just a women’s issue—it is a men’s issue too. Men are often household decision-makers, yet the most ignorant about menstruation. If we are to change cultural restrictions, we must first change ourselves.

I am still unlearning. But I am committed to ensuring that my sisters, niece, and future daughters live in a world where menstruation is not a source of shame. Change begins with awareness, and awareness begins with conversation. If a man like me—who grew up in silence—can begin to talk, then so can others.

Maybe then, our daughters will grow up in a world where they don’t need to whisper about their periods anymore.

— Dr. Mohammad Naushad, Research Fellow, Indian Language Programme, CSDS