Aditi Gupta: A taboo-free way to talk about periods
अदिति गुप्ता: महिनावारीको बिषयमा नि:संकोच छलफल
Aditi Gupta uses storytelling and art to educate young girls about menstruation. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
हरेक महीना यसै गरेर
goes through every month
of our species depends on it.
and shameful talking about it.
a secret from others --
appeared in our textbooks,
shameful to talk about it.
are not aware of menstruation
out of 10 girls being unaware of it.
that I have spoken to,
at the time of their first menstruation
is a very important risk factor
of girls and women
of managing their periods.
unhygienic ways to manage their periods.
called Garhwa, in Jharkhand,
is considered shameful.
I would wash and reuse them.
in a dark, damp place
that I'm menstruating.
the rags would become coarse,
and infections using them.
until I moved out of that town.
that periods brought in my life
and women when they're on their periods.
for the few who don't.
or some other family member's bed.
after every period,
any object of religious importance.
of menstruating girls and women.
on younger girls in a family.
accepting such restrictions as norms.
from generation to generation.
and wash their dishes separately.
to take baths during periods,
secluded from other family members.
and women in India
customs on their periods every month.
and self-confidence of a young girl?
that this inflicts,
during her early formative years?
restrictive customs for 13 years,
उसँगको छलफल पछि,
about menstruation forever.
our postgraduation in design.
discussing periods with him.
that girls get painful cramps
upon menstruating girls and women
and learn more about menstruation.
about menstruation myself.
actually turned out to be myths.
अन्धविश्वास मात्र रहेछन्।
त महिनावारीको बारेमा
who would be ill-informed, too.
the lack of awareness about menstruation
and misconception is a rural phenomenon,
an urban phenomenon as well.
urban class, also.
parents and teachers,
wanted to educate girls about periods
getting their menstrual cycle.
the proper means themselves.
and shameful in talking about it.
in classes six and seven,
only in standard eight and nine.
skip the subject altogether.
teach girls about periods,
and we wondered:
गर्नपाए हुन्थ्यो,
about menstruation on their own --
parents and teachers
comfortably to young girls?
of girls during their periods.
curious and interested
in their close circle.
that would make the girls curious
to teach girls about periods.
would enact these stories
in a fun and engaging way.
in their different phases of puberty,
during the narrative of the book
been getting her period.
about the various aspects of growing up
were objectionable in any way
we found that the girls loved the book.
about periods on their own.
comfortable in talking about periods
were interested in reading it.
in creating an environment
themselves to educate girls
in five different states in India.
took this prototype to educate young monks
called "Menstrupedia Comic"
educated by using the book in India and --
into different languages
in different countries.
a part of their school curriculum
teachers, school principals,
drive to their own communities,
learn about periods at the right age
where menstruation is not a curse,
to all the parents here.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Aditi Gupta - Social entrepreneur, co-founder of MenstrupediaAditi Gupta uses storytelling and art to educate young girls about menstruation.
Why you should listen
Aditi Gupta is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Menstrupedia, working towards spreading awareness about menstruation. While studying at the National Institute of Design as a Ford Foundation research scholar, she has conducted extensive research in understanding the scenario of menstrual unawareness in India and its impact on a girl's life. She has designed effective educational tools for girls and schools using storytelling and sequential art for educating young girls about periods in a society where the subject is a major taboo.
Menstrupedia Comic is a complete guide on periods designed by Menstrupedia team being used by more than 30 schools across India. The books are being distributed in other countries like Nepal, South America and Nigeria.
Gupta is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and made it to the achiever's list of Forbes India 30 under 30 in 2014 for her work towards breaking the taboo around menstruation. She is a International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNBC and BBC. She aspires to create a future where menstruation is not a taboo but a welcoming change in a girl's life.
Aditi Gupta | Speaker | TED.com