Personal Narrative: Caste Is My Period

Abstract

Deepthi Sukumar uses her personal experiences of menstruation as a Dalit woman to bring out the intersectionality of caste and gender in menstrual taboos. She explains the different cultural backgrounds of women in India and the patriarchal design of using menstrual taboos for male supremacy and caste hierarchy. While exploring and analyzing the different patterns of menstrual taboos and their implications, Sukumar shows the gaps in feminist understanding of the intersectionality of caste and patriarchy. She concludes by observing that the discourse on menstrual taboos should become the focal point to build inclusion and understand gender inequality and oppression within the framework of intersectionality.