Menstruation Leave: Yay or Nay

When we all are adopting the “New-normal”, sad reality is addressing menstruation/period is still not considered as normal. Periods are still a taboo subject in many cultures. Discussing it or having a leave policy declared for it is indeed considered as a bold move. Zomato did that and recently has stirred a heated debate. Where some are applauding this decision, some are criticizing it. Interestingly I have seen many women are in for it and many are not. Feminism has been brought and used for and against it. I personally have never fully understood the term feminism since it has evolved and created so many variations of its own. I, for one, was on the celebratory end of the spectrum when I read about Zomato’s period leave policy. But I was not surprised by this seemingly irreparable divide on opinions among others.

I am a firm advocate of equality and equitability. But will that stop me from addressing a subject considered as taboo yet an inseparable part of women who comprise 40% of the global labor force? No. So here are my thoughts on menstruation/period leave.

For some women, “that time of the month” causes little or no pain at all but it can be incapacitating for others. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, up to 20% of women suffer from acute menstrual cramps, severe enough to hinder daily activities.  It not just causes distress at work but affects productivity too. As a result, menstrual leave (paid or unpaid) became globally recognized and many countries have already incorporated it in their laws or company policies. 

To understand the significance of implementing menstrual leave, we need to know about the pain that dysmenorrhea inflicts. It falls into two categories: primary and secondary.

Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological problem that affects 9 out of 10 women and has no specific cause. It is defined as the cramping of the lower abdomen, back, and thighs that usually begins one or two days prior to the menstruation cycle and normally lasts 48 to 72 hours once it starts. Secondary dysmenorrhoea is a less common condition, caused by disorder in a woman’s reproductive organs. The pain usually starts earlier in the cycle and lasts longer than primary dysmenorrhea. Other symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, and headache.

Dr Dasha Fielder, an Australian GP, described period cramps to be very similar to the initial stages of labour. This is because both menstruation and childbirth pain originate from contractions and the cervix opening. 

This speaks volume. Doesn't it?

Menstrual leaves are recognized in countries like: Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Zambia. Japan is considered to be the pioneer that implemented provisions on unpaid menstrual leave in their Labour Standards Law 1947 which states that “...when a woman for whom work during menstrual periods would be especially difficult has requested leave, the employer shall not employ such women on days of the menstrual period.” 

Corporations like Nike have incorporated menstrual leave into their Code of Conduct in 2007. 

However, such policies are not short of controversies. Some view the move as regressive, contending that it could encourage organizations to hire men over women. Another interesting response is the concept that women would somehow find a way to “misuse” the menstruation/period leave policy. Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women's Trust said, “The interesting thing, over 18 months, I think the number of days of period leave that my staff has claimed is probably about seven or eight across the whole office.” It is important to remember that misusing menstruation leave is an absurd yet dangerous supposition. It implies that women are not reliable sources of their own experiences and are more prone to misrepresent things, and I find this as an unsubstantiated assumption.

Zomato’s period leave has been criticized, being called “unnecessary privilege/luxury/tool to ghettoized/regressive” both by men and women. As no one generally talks about menstruation/period, people remain oblivious to the pain and suffering caused by it and the extent to which it might affect a woman. It is important to focus on individual differences and not paint all women as having the same experiences. Some women do have pain and cramps and could be laid out for days, and others barely even feel that they are having their period. So we can not just categorize all women as the same. Discussions on such differences and menstrual leave policies could open the door for conversation around menstruation stigmas and the much needed societal changes.

I think we should encourage time off during the menstrual cycle. Why? Cause I refuse to hear “Have you tried pain-killers?” Seeking a solution to the discomfort, pain among the comfort of pain-killers is always a big no-no for me and is not advised by the doctors also. So it is time we advocate the implementation of menstrual leave policy at workplaces. People must not fail to understand that women go through a natural cycle which is revitalizing, unique, and evolutionary just like motherhood. It is a power that should be valued and not treated as a sickness or weakness. 

Menstrual leave gathers attention and they make us have a broader aspect and discussion about it. Speaking more openly about womanhood and periods could lead to broader changes around social norms and gender stereotypes in the workplace that affect everyone, not only a menstruating woman.

It might take us a long time to accept and wrap our heads around menstruation leave like many objected to maternity leave at first but someday in the future I hope it will be considered as normal, basic, natural, and necessary.