Women and adolescent girls face multiple challenges, it is evident that promoting menstrual hygiene management is not only a sanitation matter; it is also an important step towards safeguarding the dignity, bodily integrity and overall life opportunities of women and girls.
The lack of separate toilets with doors that can be safely closed, or the unavailability of means to dispose of used sanitary pads and water to wash hands, means that women and girls face challenges in maintaining their menstrual hygiene. The inability to manage their menstrual hygiene in schools, results in school absenteeism, which in turn, has severe economic costs on their lives and on the country.
Women and girls need to share their concerns and exchange information to promote healthy practices and break myths around menstruation and training them about menstrual health management will help them rise above the unhealthy practices and continue to stay in school and equipped with the right information.
Let’s create a world where every woman and every girl can manage her menstruation in a hygienic way – wherever she is – in privacy, safety and with dignity!
India is particularly guilty of the brand of body shaming that insists that only fair is lovely. The one thing that sets us Indians apart is our fetish for fair skin. Media, advertising, and the fairness cream industry strafe Indian women and now men too, with the message that their natural skin colour is not good enough, whether for a job, a game of tennis, or the marriage market.
Dark and Lovely seeks to draw attention to the unjust effects of skin colour bias, shaped by societal attitudes and reinforced by media messages that are corroding the self-worth of countless people, young and old. Creating awareness about skin colour bias is the first step to fighting it.
Our skin needs to be embraced, it needs to be loved and flaunted with confidence but most importantly, it needs to be accepted by oneself. It does not matter what people say or what they think or feel about how one looks.
How you feel about yourself is reflected in how you look, which is what matters and observed by the people around you. What you are is entirely up to you — so get up and step into your aura!
Go on, embrace your dusky skin! And, challenge anyone who thinks dark skin to be any less beautiful than fair skin. Choose to be you, choose to accept who you are, choose to be happy.
You are perfect just the way you are!
Known as sexism in the workplace or employment sexism, occupational sexism is any form of discrimination against someone because of their sex that happens in their place of work. Whether it’s benevolent or hostile, sexism should not exist anywhere. When it happens in the workplace, it may not even be so evident. It may come up in Insults as Jokes, Role stereotypes, physical focus, gender labelling and not valuing women’s opinion.
If both a woman and a man are equally qualified for a role, it is possible that a man will receive the promotion simply because of sexist beliefs or thoughts in the workplace. It’s very clear to see how unfair and wrong that is. Sexism and the idea that women are inferior to men has led to sexual assault and harrassment in the workplace.
If you’re not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Whether you take part in sexism or just idly watch it as it happens, you’re equally culpable. You have the power to speak up and fight against sexism anywhere, especially in the workplace. A workplace is meant to be a safe space for both women and men to get their job done, so it’s important that every person helps to bring an end to its existence.
It’s time to show employees that their voices lead to change. Listen to their challenges, ideas, and views without becoming defensive. Take them seriously, and make an effort to respond to the insights they have shared with you. It’s time for a change and it starts with YOU.
