Movie Analysis Essay on Period. End of Sentence

Introduction

Period. End of Sentence presents the misconstrued reality and bitter truths surrounding adolescent girls and women who menstruate. The documentary offers a preview of the brewing problem of menstruation which required a definitive solution provided by the pad factory offering affordable sanitary pads. The women in the film live in a capitalist economy want to market their products and, in the process, empower women so that the community benefits and grows.

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When I was young, I had a rudimentary understanding of the menstruation where I thought women are usually hurt; that is why they use pads and tampons. Later on, I learned from my mother that women bleed a little every month, and it is called a period which is how the body gets ready for the baby. When I asked about puberty and changing bodies, I was told that the time a girl gets older, the body develops enabling her to conceive when she becomes a woman. The body prepared itself for a child to form inside the mother in the uterus. The child grows in a uterus and if the child does not grow, the uterus wall sheds off and the girl bleeds. Also, she said blood goes out of the body through the private parts, and the uterus wall gets rebuilt every month in preparation of a child.

During this time, all this knowledge seemed fake, and I thought my mother was lying since she does not understand puberty. I even told her if she did not know, she should just say so. It was something that I felt uncomfortable talking with my mother about ad even much more uncomfortable discussing it with my classmates. I believed it was a woman-oriented issue and feared being embarrassed affecting my self-esteem so I could not find the courage to talk it with them.

The woman who says patriarchy requires time to discuss issues linked with women means that men are ignorant of the issues affecting the women and usually try to avoid talking about them. More so, as most men have limited insights on the normal physiology of menstruation, it takes a lot of time to teach them about the menstrual cycle. In this case, as menstruation is considered a taboo, men tend to avoid talking about it. Patriarchy blooms in popular culture and common parlance in India which sidelines open speaking of menstruation. Men know something about it but fail to consider talking about it in front of women, and even women avoid talking about menstruation due to fear of further inquiry of the nature of it.

The patriarchal society has men who are responsible for making decisions on services and facilities required by women and girls such as sanitary pads availability and women involved in community meetings and awareness-raising sessions. In this case, individuals who support organizations that develop community-based menstrual hygiene which empowers adolescent girls and women through providing affordable and high-quality sanitary materials and safe disposal contribute to effectively dealing with menstruation. Also, in this society which men have the fundamental power predominating in social privilege and moral authority of women, men involved in decision making on the allocation of household resources contribute in providing the money needed for menstrual materials. Involving men in menstrual hygiene management through open dialogues enables them to realize its significance and share the power dynamics with women.

It is a remarkable idea providing the free menstrual products in school as it will change the perception males have towards menstruation helping in reducing shame and restoring girls and women’s dignity. More so, it relieves female learners of discomfort, anxiety, and stigma linked with menstrual hygiene management focusing on studies. The cost associated with monthly buying of the sanitary pads and towels is significant and puts some pressure on the living of low-income families.

Furthermore, the free sanitary pads will ease the living costs of these families, helping the female learners to be comfortable as their wealthy classmates. As pads are a necessity for all women, free provisions of these products ensure a positive culture around menstrual health. Additionally, free menstrual products give students the freedom to choose to focus on personal preferences, needs, and maturity. Ultimately, free menstrual products allow girls who cannot afford them to come to school during the cycle, helping them reach their dreams and goals without limitation.

The introduction of the pad factory in the rural area empowers the women in making something that seeks to benefit them. When they employ women to make sanitary pads for their livelihoods, they are helping them to earn an income and be independent in society. Women have become more courageous and responsible as they can contribute equally to their husbands.

It has changed their perception of themselves and created a belief that they too can do what men are doing in society. Women who have never worked before have gotten the opportunity to work and develop new skills. The only way to achieve their aspirations requires upward, and onward movement since the expectations are unfazed and grounded in reality. The goals are clarified in the films with the belief in the company of firm women united in period, love, joy, and shame.

References

Zehtabchi, R., Berton, M., Schiff, G. K., & Taback, L. (2019, February 19). Period. End of sentence [Video]. Netflix - Watch TV Shows Online, Watch Movies Online. https://www.netflix.com/watch/81074663?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2C461bb37aaa7a86829fde1af2634c20030315233b%3A84a674f2911d39ceeb1501a8169438cab2558cd8%2C%2C%2C