There Will Be Blood: From Ahmedabad to Hapur, women are fighting the taboos associated with menstruation
Amid celebrations over the success of an India-set film dealing with menstruation taboo at the Oscars, a group of female cab drivers from Ahmedabad have taken the issue head-on on the ground.
The cabbies, trained under the initiative DriverBen-ek nayi pehchaan by Janvikas and Aazaad Foundation, have started wearing a jacket – when they're menstruating – with the message 'Yes I am bleeding' to dispel the awkwardness and stigma associated with periods.
Nearly 100 jackets have been given to the drivers as part of a collaboration between Unipads, a city-based manufacturer and distributor of reusable sanitary pads, and Driverben. The jackets carry the message in Gujarati and English.
"Bleeding is a monthly universal phenomenon and at times we need to let people know without being ashamed of it or trying to hide it," said Unipads founder Geeta Solanki. She said women need to take it upon themselves to bring this change in the society.
"Until and unless we do not initiate the talk, menstruation will always be associated with shame and secrecy."
Bindiya Chauhan broke the glass ceiling when she became a part of the DriverBen initiative. "I used to earn Rs 8,000 a month as a home guard, but that was not enough to run my family of four with younger siblings pursuing studies. Today I drive an SUV and work for a lawyer's family, ferry their kids to school and classes," beamed the 30-year-old Saraspur resident.
About 'Yes I am bleeding' message, she said, "It was initially difficult for most of us to wear the coat but it also instilled confidence among us that menstruating is not wrong or is not a sin. I do wear the jacket four-five days a month."
Another female driver said, "Often we travel outstation as part of our job. If we wear the jacket, passengers can be a bit empathetic towards us."
Once the training is completed, the waist coats are given to the drivers requesting them to wear it during the five days of their menstruation as a move to break the barriers of secrecy, said Priya from Janvikas.
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