Female and Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual leave is a policy that exists in several countries around the world. In countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, some provinces in India and China, and African countries like Zambia, women are allowed to take a few days off work during their monthly period.
This is a leave policy where women who have painful periods are allowed to take a paid or unpaid leave off work during their monthly cycle.
There has been termed counterproductive. It will also add to one of the many reasons women will not totally be accepted in the workforce.
Pregnancy, childbirth which will need women to take extensive time off work is a discouraging factor in employing women in the first place.
Some employers even specify they will only employ unmarried women. You see that ‘female needed for gender balance’ on job posts is usually ‘Lori Iro’.
Will crafting out such leave policies really be in the favour of women in the long run.
Truthfully women are obviously wired differently from men. Most women experience extreme pain, a condition called dysmenorrhea. As much as painful this is, it is not an illness, it will even be a source of worry if your period does not show up in a month.
Menstrual leave is not much talked about in Nigeria. With the level of unemployment, most women are just grateful to have a job.
In work environments, they only hope to have a leader who would understand when the pain causes them to be less productive and be sensitive enough to do the needful.
Menstrual leave policy is a welcome idea if we did not have to deal with gender inequality. So why not just have policies that are flexible for everyone in your organization.
Leave policies that afford an individual irrespective of being male or female, to take time off when they are not strong enough to perform.
This is our take, we will love to know what other women think. As this is a topic not much talked about.
Only mentioned passively and always treated as ‘each woman to her own cross’ in workplaces. What are your honest opinions about this?
