Dear Hina Khan, Periods Are More Than Just 'Special Days'

In a recent video from TV reality show Swayamvar: Mika Di Vohti which surfaced on the internet, TV actor Hina Khan can be seen calling menstrual days as her 'special days'. While the actor shared that she loves to pamper herself during her periods, the internet reminded her how taxing those days are for some people. Dealing with periods is not a cakewalk for all.

During her recent appearance on the reality show Swayamvar: Mika Di Vohti, Hina Khan had a little chat session with the contestants who were keen to impress singer Mika Singh in order to marry him. The show will come to an end on July 25, as the singer will finally choose his 'Vohti' or bride. Four contestants including Akanksha Puri, Prantika Das, Neet Mahal, and Riya Kishanchandani have emerged as the finalists on the show.

Building up to the finale, Hina Khan held a grooming session with the contestants where she taught them catwalk and also provided tips on winning the singer's heart. It is from this episode that a clip found its way to Reddit, with many calling out the actor for trivialising the period discomfort experienced by many people.

Hina Khan on Periods: Calls Them Her "Special Days"

Calling her period days as "special days", Khan can be heard saying, "I don't call them my sad days. I don't feel the pain. I really enjoy those days." She further mentions in the clip that she doesn't comprehend why people complain about the menstrual cycle. "I don't know why I feel ye ek ladki ki zindagi ke, infact har mahine ke bahot hi special din hote hai (these days are very special in a girl's life, infact the special days of each month)." The actor remarked that whenever she has to let someone know about her periods, she tells them that she is having her "special days".

Special Days, But Not For All

Dealing with periods is not cakewalk for everyone. While some have it easy, others find it very difficult to sail through the pain and cramps brought on by periods. And it's not just about the pain, periods brings with it mood swings, cravings, bloating and disturbed sleep cycle. Constantly bleeding for days could leave you feeling emotionally low, irritated and in constant discomfort. Then there are rashes on your thighs etc, if you use a pad.

Those who are suffering from PCOD have it even worse. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOD is a condition which includes women having irregular menstrual cycles brought on by excess of androgen hormone levels. The ovaries may develop follicles which may result in irregular release of eggs. People with PCOD may experience extreme weight gain or obesity and can also cause acne. Irregular period cycle also means that they may experience heavy bleeding and cramps.

While it is common for most women to complain about their periods, Hina Khan is apparently the first woman that I've heard saying that she enjoy them. It almost takes me an hour to suppress the period cramps even after taking the pain killers and if it's the first day, it is bound to be a crime scene in my pants! It's hard to track the flow when you're using a tampon while pads are too uncomfortable. How do women in those sanitary pad advertisement remain so care free jumping and dancing everywhere? That depiction is far from reality, but Hina Khan seems to have bought it.

It is one thing to underplay your period experience and completely different thing to reject experiences of other people by whitewashing the discomfort with words like "special days". Celebrities like Hina Khan truly need a crash course in empathy so that they can think about an issue beyond how it affects or doesn't affect their lives.

Views expressed by author are their own.