Menstrual Practices across Generations: A Tribal Case Study from Jhargram district of West Bengal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55578/amsr.2604.004Keywords:
Menstrual health , Generation, Attitude, Knowledge , Practice, Theme, Tribal, West BengalAbstract
Menstrual health practices are deeply embedded within cultural norms, beliefs, and intergenerational knowledge systems. While access to menstrual hygiene information and products has improved in many parts of India, socio-cultural restrictions surrounding menstruation continue to shape women’s experiences. This qualitative communication examines menstrual beliefs and practices across three generations of tribal women within a single family in rural West Bengal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of three generations, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal both persistence and transformation in menstrual practices. Older generations reported stronger restrictions, ritual impurity beliefs, and reliance on traditional absorbents, whereas younger women demonstrated greater awareness of menstrual hygiene and increased use of sanitary products. However, certain cultural restrictions remain embedded within family and community expectations. The study highlights the coexistence of continuity and changes in menstrual health practices and underscores the importance of culturally sensitive menstrual health education.
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The data supporting the findings of this study are not publicly available due to confidentiality and privacy considerations but may be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mir Azad Kalam, Saptamita Pal (Author)
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