Women warriors: Breaking menstruation taboos, challenging leadership perceptions

Breaking taboos around menstruation and challenging gender stereotypes in leadership were central themes of the India Today Woman Summit 2026 panel discussion ‘Women professionals: Making the difference”, featuring Menstrupedia founder Aditi Gupta and Neeru Yadav, sarpanch of Lambi Ahir Gram Panchayat in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district.

Gupta said menstruation remained one of India’s last major taboos, with shame and silence surrounding a natural biological process. She pointed out that nearly 12 million girls in India reach puberty every year, but inadequate toilets, lack of menstrual education and social stigma continue to affect their schooling and, eventually, their economic independence. “This is not just a period problem; it really is a human rights issue,” she said.

Gupta also linked menstrual awareness to the larger question of gender equality and consent. If girls cannot speak openly about their bodies and biological processes, she argued, it becomes harder for them to speak about violence or other forms of discrimination. Gupta called for workplaces to provide clean toilets, sanitary supplies and the option of menstrual leave, while stressing that menstruation should be treated as a health issue rather than a source of embarrassment.

Yadav spoke about the challenges of addressing menstruation in rural Rajasthan. As a woman sarpanch, she has launched a ‘healthy diet and happy periods’ campaign involving ASHA workers, anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives, alongside efforts to ensure clean toilets and safe disposal of sanitary products. She recalled that when the issue was first raised in a gram sabha, many young women stayed away and sent their mothers-in-law instead, highlighting the deep-rooted hesitation around discussing menstruation.

Yadav also spoke about overcoming resistance to women’s leadership. She said she challenged the perception that village leadership required a man and also promoted girls’ participation in hockey. Her initiatives include a utensils bank to reduce single-use plastic, an idea that was subsequently adopted across Rajasthan’s gram panchayats.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Aditi Gupta

• “This is not just a period problem; it really is a human rights issue.”
• “If a woman or a girl can’t even talk about her natural biological process, how is she ever going to talk about any violence that she faces?”
• “The office should say that I am a safe space, and periods are important.”

Neeru Yadav

• “A village as a whole will develop only when the girls there are healthy and feel safe.”
• “Leadership isn’t defined by gender. It’s about your abilities and how you lead your people.”
• “There are many daughters who can make a name for themselves in sports.”

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