During Ramadan, Muslim women do not want to be ashamed of their periods.
Some
Muslim women have gone to social media to express their dissatisfaction with
cultural norms that prevent menstruation girls and women from participating in
the month-long fast.
Getting
your period during Ramadan makes you feel as though you're missing out as if
you can't just skip one period a year.
—
Zeynab (@Riham Alazazy) 27th of May, 2018
Those
who follow the holy month of Ramadan, the most important month of the Islamic
faith, fast every day from sunrise to sunset. Although fasting is an important
part of Ramadan, children, pregnant or nursing women, and women and girls who
are menstruating are not obligated to fast.
Women
and girls are not required to fast or pray during their periods because they
are regarded ritualistically "impure" during this time — yet they are
not simply exempted. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Faraz M. Sheikh,
assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the College of
William & Mary, explained that they are expected to make up the lost days
of fasting as soon as their periods are done and they are ritually washed.
However,
many girls and women have expressed their dissatisfaction with being excluded
from Ramadan activities on Twitter in recent weeks.
Some
women said they feel "dirty" and ashamed of a completely natural
bodily function during the holy month because of the stigma surrounding
periods.
I'm
sick and tired of being made to feel unclean and dirty just because I'm on my
period during Ramadan and obviously not fasting. Put a stop to it! Periods were
created by Allah as well, so quit abusing them.
This
isn't even a controversial viewpoint. — Nashmia (@luminous x) 30 May 2018
They
wouldn't prohibit eating in public during Ramadan if it were men getting their
periods, I swear.
May
28, 2018 — fatma1uae (@fatma1uae)
I
used to go to the mosque and pretend I wasn't on my period, but you can't touch
the book, so I'd tie a corner of my scarf over my finger, but I still felt like
I was breaking the rules. One of the things that turned me away from religion
was when I was stuck between a rock and a hard place — build a wall and line
all the nazis up along it (@SamAmbreenSalah). 30 May 2018
Others
have pointed out that the stigma associated with menstruation puts women in a
particularly difficult situation during Ramadan because they cannot participate
in the prayers and fasting, nor can they eat in public without being shamed for
not fasting.
Many
women already do this; it's just that we've been taught into believing we
should be ashamed of it and must hide it.
—
@chubbythicc (@sabitch) 30 May 2018
When
I'm on my period during Ramadan, I literally have to go into my room and lock
the door to eat because my mother is so stringent about my father or brothers
knowing, which I find ridiculous because it's not something I should have to
hide — 38 DAYS IN ASPEN (@reallymarvel) 30 May 2018
Any
man who is uncomfortable with his knowledge has to mature — 30 May 2018 Daniel
H. Raza (@dhraza)
Many
have spoken out in support of women and girls, pointing out that menstruation
is a completely natural part of life, as women's tweets about period shame
during Ramadan attracted online attention.
During
Ramadan, women should not be ashamed of their periods; they are natural, and
every woman should believe that.
—
30 May 2018 Yaseen Ali (@ali onlyme)
While
the concept that women are "impure" during their periods is a
cultural rather than a religious one, various religious societies have
comparable taboos around menstruation. Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist faiths
all have opinions toward menstruation girls and women.
Many
women and girls around the world are prevented from fully participating in
ordinary life during their periods due to these beliefs. Girls and women are
isolated and confined to a hut during their periods in places like Nepal as
part of a traditional practice known as "chaupadi."
Many
girls miss school while menstruating due to the social stigma associated with
periods and a lack of safe and inexpensive menstrual hygiene management
services. According to UNESCO, one out of every ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa
misses school during her period, which can amount to as much as 20% of a school
year.
However,
it is past time to put a stop to these dehumanizing attitudes toward normal,
human activity. Global Citizen fights for gender equality and the abolition of
all types of discrimination. You can take action here to inform world leaders
that #ItsBloodyTime so that girls can continue to acquire an education
regardless of their period.