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In The Words Of: Activist Aashraya Seth On Menstrual Equity and STEM Activism
Aashraya with Rachel Vogelstein, Special Assistant to President Biden at the White House Gender Policy Council.
It's funny how life throws you curveballs, leading you down paths you never expected. My journey began with a simple observation at the age of eight – a pattern of silence and exclusion surrounding my mother and sister for a few days every month. They wouldn’t enter the kitchen or the temple, hushed whispers referred to being “unwell,” and I was left with a sense of unease, a feeling that something wasn’t right. Years passed, the memory lingered, and I found myself face-to-face with a similar pattern, but this time, on a much larger scale.
At 21, fresh out of university with a degree in Physics, I landed a job at IIT Bombay. I was tasked with promoting education technology and making India IT-literate, a challenge I met with enthusiasm. Over three years, I worked with over 400 institutions, supporting 300,000 students from Tier-2 cities in various areas of computer and science education using edtech. But a stark reality emerged from the data: only 20% of the beneficiaries were girls. Where were the missing voices, the untapped potential?
An exhaustive analysis, coupled with consultations with government officials, schools, and students, unveiled the culprits – period poverty and deeply ingrained societal norms that steered girls away from STEM fields. A staggering 23 million girls in India drop out of school at menarche, a statistic that mirrored the whispers and exclusions from my childhood. This was the moment the seed of change was planted. It wasn't just a problem in my household; it was a systemic issue hindering millions of girls from reaching their full potential.
In 2019, driven by a mix of personal experiences and professional insights, I founded Happy Periods, a non-profit organization committed to ending period poverty and empowering women and girls in STEM. My physics background came in handy, allowing me to design and build India’s most affordable sanitary pad vending machine, bringing the cost down by 4x. I also launched an affordable menstrual cup to democratize the use of sustainable menstrual products. This innovation opened doors, leading to partnerships with state governments to implement the solution on a larger scale.
But providing access to products wasn't enough; we needed to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation. I spearheaded the development of a comprehensive menstrual curriculum, introducing the topic into the Indian school system. The curriculum, designed for both boys and girls, covered menstrual health, hygiene management, debunked myths, emphasized nutrition, and even included yoga exercises for cramps.
To me, being a male ally meant tackling the root of the problem – patriarchy. I launched Alvida Patriarchy, an initiative aimed at engaging men and boys in conversation. We started open dialogues, addressing the harmful impacts of patriarchal masculinity and misogyny without directly mentioning those terms. We encouraged men to challenge discriminatory practices, confront their own biases, share household responsibilities, and champion women's aspirations. Our message was clear: men have a crucial role to play in building a more gender-equal world.
My work with Happy Periods brought me to a remote Adivasi region across India, where I volunteered in a school implementing education technology solutions. Witnessing the awe and excitement of Adivasi and Dalit girls, many of whom were seeing a laptop for the first time, sparked another realization. In the age of digitization, these first-generation learners were at risk of being left behind. This led to the birth of STEMinism in India, an initiative dedicated to bringing the STEM revolution to these marginalized communities.
The intersection of menstrual equity and STEM became increasingly clear. Access to menstrual products and education directly correlated with girls' ability to participate in STEM. Girls who felt supported and empowered were more likely to stay in school and engage in our after-school STEM clubs. We even developed Lakshmi chatbot, a messenger-based platform providing verified information on sexual and reproductive health rights and menstrual equity in vernacular languages, further merging technology with menstrual health awareness.
Our work has touched the lives of over half a million people across India. Collaboration is key to amplifying our impact. Movements like HeForShe are vital in engaging male allies in positions of power to champion menstrual equity, reproductive health rights, and STEM for girls. For too long, menstruation has been considered a "women's issue," discussed in whispers and managed in silence. This approach not only perpetuates stigma but also excludes half of our population from being part of the solution.
We need to educate boys and men about menstruation, encourage male family members, friends, and partners to be supportive allies, include men in policy discussions and initiatives related to menstrual equity, empower fathers, brothers, and male educators to discuss menstruation openly and supportively. When we engage men and boys, we create a more inclusive, understanding society.
Through HeForShe, I aim to encourage a generation of men who see menstrual health as a public health issue, not a taboo topic.