• Trishna Moni Thakuria

Menstruation, both as a physical and cultural process has been evolving among human societies since time immemorial. However, over the course of time, cultural beliefs and practices of menstruation has been seen inseparably attached with the biological interpretation of menstruation. Patriarchal cultures all across the human world have been using this biological aspect of female body to socially define women and disfavour the menstrual body into a symbolic cultural object burdened with set rules and taboos. From Victorian west to religiously diverse oriental culture as well as ethnically rich African societies; menstruation has been a socio-cultural construct rooted in different menstrual practices, rituals and perceptions. The root of menstrual culture is so much delved in taboos such as purity and pollution, dirt and hygiene etc. that it was not included in the serious academic research for a very long time. However, with the wake of feminism and ethnographic research in Anthropology; menstruation has been studied and theorized by various disciplines both in social sciences as well as medical studies. But, as the menstrual discourse needs more than theoretical understanding; over the course of time a spat of menstrual activism started all over the globe under various movements such as Red Tent, Free-Bleeding, Sanitary Pad movement etc. These movements, although claim themselves to be based on feminist praxis; most of them are still in an infant and ambiguous stage which is not able to reach the common women. Even in India, although menstrual talk is what is taking internet by storm, is still an unknown arena to most women. Therefore, in this paper, I would like to understand the debates, dilemmas and future of this movements in a culture like Assam, India where menstrual culture is very strong both in theory and practice.

Menstruation, Menstrual Culture, Menstrual Activism, Assam

"ASSESSING MENSTRUAL AWARENESS & ACTIVISM IN ASSAM", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 10, page no.419-424, October-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1810843.pdf

"ASSESSING MENSTRUAL AWARENESS & ACTIVISM IN ASSAM", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 10, page no. pp419-424, October-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1810843.pdf