When I was young, before my first period, I sometimes overheard women talking about it. Their tone and choice of words made it clear they considered it a taboo, something to be ashamed of. I did not fully understand what they were discussing. But as I got a little older, still without having experienced it myself, my uncle sat me down and explained menstruation. He walked me through it in detail so that when the time came, I would not be frightened.
I still remember that first morning vividly. It was not a good one. I was in pain. I went to the bathroom to wash up and noticed the blood. Even though I knew what it was, I felt a flash of fear and had no idea what to do next. My grandmother was already awake. I wanted to tell her, but I could not find the words. Eventually, I did, and she responded with complete calm, explained everything I needed to know, and told me what to do.
Over time, it became routine. I learned what products to use and when. I actually discovered that pads were the common choice the day I watched my friend buy them. I felt a little embarrassed at the time. But eventually I stopped and asked myself: why?
I know that embarrassment was rooted in the way our society treats menstruation as a taboo. I no longer feel that shame, because menstruation is not taboo. Most of the restrictions surrounding it are imposed by older generations, and that is precisely how the monthly cycle came to be seen as something shameful or forbidden.
It is not. Menstruation is a completely natural part of growing up, and no one should speak of it with embarrassment. Girls deserve clear, honest information before they reach puberty so that their first experience does not frighten them.
We cannot allow the next generation of Afghanistan to inherit this silence. The subject must be discussed openly and often, until no one feels ashamed to bring it up. There is a proverb I have always loved: “Asking is no fault, but not understanding is.” That is the truth. We must seek knowledge, let go of shame, and become the generation that finally breaks this taboo.
You can read the Persian version of this story here:
