Indians and Tampons

The majority of women in India are still living in poverty and can’t afford tampons.  Moreover, most villagers have taboos about menstruation that prevents them from openly experimenting with different kinds of feminine products.  Since many poor people still do not even have regular access to toilets, tampons are not a priority. 

Even middle class women, however, rarely use tampons.  It is still the norm in India for women with disposable incomes to use sanitary pads.  Most middle class women seem happy with pads, but I think it is a good idea to dispel some myths about tampons in order to give women and girls a greater range of choices.

Americans in India will find tampons in most large city grocery stores, but they are very difficult to find elsewhere.  Also, you may not find the brand you want.  For some reason, OB (without applicator) seems to be more common here.

Tampon Use and Physical Activity

In India, I notice that far fewer girls play sports than boys.  Girls also do not swim as much as boys.  I don’t think it is any accident that women who enjoy the greatest range of physical freedom live in countries where tampon use is prevalent.  A menstruating woman who is wearing a tampon has no restrictions on her movement at all.  

Advantages of using a tampon:

• She will stay dry and clean- no blood will ever exit her body if she inserts the tampon correctly and changes it regularly.  
  
• She can wear whatever clothing she chooses without fear that a pad will show.  She can wear a bathing suit or a pair of small shorts; it’s not even necessary to wear underwear while wearing a tampon.  
  
• She can participate in sports, go swimming, ride bicycles, go jogging, do whatever she wants without any concern for the bulk of a pad.  
  
• She can sleep at night in any position she wants without worrying about making a mess.  
  
• Tampons are small and discreet, so disposal is also easy.  
  
• Also, a woman can urinate without removing a tampon so it makes going to the bathroom a lot easier.
  

I'm including this not because I want to convince the world to use tampons, but instead because I meet a lot of Indian girls who complain about not being able to do certain things when they have their periods.  It's sad to watch a group of teenagers playing at the beach or the football field and there is a girl sitting by herself because she can't run or get wet.  I don't think women anywhere should feel like they must wear tampons, I just think they should have the option to do so.