A demand that could hamper gender equality

CategorySocial

Last Updated16/02/2024

The Sabrimala temple issue sparked widespread discussion on the discrimination faced by menstruating women in accessing religious spaces.
It highlighted the ongoing struggle to eliminate discriminatory practices related to menstruation and to promote gender equality.

Demand for paid menstrual leave is critiqued as potentially undermining efforts for gender equality.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, this would further dissuade companies from hiring women.
While paid leave for menstruation aims to raise awareness, it may actually exacerbate the issue by highlighting menstruation as a special concern.
It could also inadvertently widen the gender gap instead of closing it, despite their well-meaning intentions.
If the government ratifies ‘special status’ for menstruating women, it could reinforce social stigma around menstruation.

According to the report, the gender global gap has widened (instead of shrinking).
At the workforce level, a woman earns 84 cents for every dollar that a man makes.
The participation of women in the labour force is significantly lower than that of men, and even fewer women hold leadership positions.
In the current situation, it would take the world 135.6 years to achieve gender equality.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report highlights challenges in menstrual hygiene.
Approximately 50% of women between the ages of 15 to 24 in India continue to rely on the use of cloth for menstrual protection
- Due to insufficient awareness and societal taboos around menstruation
Girls are often compelled to leave school or face social exclusion during their menstrual cycles.

Countries such as Japan provide leave for painful menstruation- but it is mostly unpaid, and unused.
This is mostly because women are reluctant to avail this leave due to fear of stigma and harassment.
Even though this policy was introduced in Japan more than seven decades ago, a mere 0.9% of women in the workforce avail menstrual leave days in Japan.
Gender disparities still persist in employment and pay despite high female education levels.

Implementing paid menstrual leave raises questions about misuse and enforcement methods.
This is exemplified by incidents of invasive checks on menstruation in Indian schools.

Women globally fight for equal opportunities, from combat roles in the military to pay parity in corporate settings.
The Supreme Court of India even urged the government to enable equal evaluation of women, and to have them undergo the same standards of testing as men.
In response, the government argued that women are not suitable for ground combat roles.

Acknowledging the diverse range of experiences women have during menstruation is essential.
Instead of applying blanket solutions, providing tailored support would promote inclusivity and address individual needs.