Bushra Mahnoor is a period rights activist working to ensure safe menstruation during crises and emergencies. She is the driving force behind Mahwari Justice, a grassroots movement that emerged in the aftermath of the 2022 floods in Pakistan. Bushra and her team have provided safe period supplies to over 150,000 menstruators in flood-hit regions and those affected by cyclone Biparjoy. She is also the author of Pakistan’s first super hero comic book on period positivity “Chandoo aur Laal Paheli”. Bushra is driving Mahwari Justice to challenge taboos with innovative solutions like Mahwari games and powerful rap songs, fostering lasting cultural change to destigmatize periods.
Noor: Mahwari Justice does a lot of work around providing sanitary products to flood-stricken areas and raising awareness regarding menstrual health in low-income communities in Pakistan. Based on your experiences working in these communities and areas, do you think government censorship – which is a tactic often used in authoritarian regimes and fundamentalist societies – affects public perception and awareness of menstrual health issues?
BM: Yes, government censorship greatly influences perception and is a great influence on the awareness of menstrual health issues in the public domain. Talking about menstruation in Pakistan is already burdened with cultural taboos and stigma. These taboos, in fact, are penetrated so deeply in society that they are reproduced and carried on through the mechanisms of silence and misinformation.
Unfortunately, the government never took on a proactive role against all these taboos and in favor of the enhancement of menstrual health education. This, in fact, rather than aiding, normally strengthens the status quo, leaving the huge responsibility of creating awareness and educating masses on the shoulders of NGOs and grassroot movements like Mahwari Justice. This is not a help but hampers the process further on because this makes the spreading of correct information and increasing menstrual health literacy among the public harder. So the menstruators are quite unaware, particularly residing in low-income and flood-stricken areas, of safe menstrual practices and continue to face period poverty and other risks.
Noor: Overall, how is your work impacted by fascist and fundamentalist elements, especially from the point of view of Pakistan?
BM: Our work in Mahawari justice is fundamentally affected by the fundamentalist and religious factors in Pakistan. Such groups are always in opposition to modernist approaches regarding matters of gender equality and reproductive health, which they comprehend as threats to the symmetrical set of things. Things like public awareness campaigns are slow to carry out, or people do not allow permits for distribution drives just because giving out period supplies is seen as obscene. Fundamentalist groups rarely threaten and harass activists and volunteers in person but there is a threat that we need to navigate, thus restricting our freedom to reach the most vulnerable communities. We, however, make do with our work strategy, and that includes partnering up with some of the faithful local leaders and opening spaces for the traditional gatherings of the mach kachehri, which often allows a platform for open discussions on menstrual health.
Noor: How does menstrual health intersect with other social justice issues like poverty, gender inequality, and access to education?
BM: Menstrual health is deeply interconnected with broader social justice issues such as poverty, gender inequality, and access to education. Period poverty—the inability to afford sanitary products—leads to poor menstrual hygiene, resulting in health complications and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. This also restricts the mobility of women and girls, as they may be unable to leave their homes during menstruation due to the lack of appropriate products and facilities. Menstrual health is a critical aspect of gender equality, as the lack of access to menstrual products and education reinforces the marginalization of women and girls, limiting their participation in social and economic activities. Societal taboos and stigma further isolate menstruators, preventing them from seeking the support they need. Additionally, many girls miss school during their menstrual periods due to the absence of sanitary facilities and products, negatively impacting their educational outcomes and widening the gender gap. In Pakistan, the onset of menstruation is often associated with child marriage, as girls who have their first period are sometimes seen as ready for marriage, leading to the abrupt end of their education. Mahwari Justice helps mitigate these issues by promoting dignity, health, and equal opportunities for all menstruators. Our work aims to break down the barriers imposed by period poverty, gender inequality, and lack of education, fostering a more inclusive and just society.
Noor: Can you share some tactics that you use as menstrual health and reproductive justice activists to combat period poverty and raise awareness in authoritarian settings?
BM: Mahwari Justice employs many effective tactics to address period poverty and raise awareness. We utilize culturally accepted forums, such as Mach Kacheri, in which to discuss familiar contexts free from resistance and stigma, therefore making it possible to engage communities in open conversations regarding menstruation and reproductive health. We create educational materials, such as comics and cartoons, that are very engaging and culturally sensitive in terms of accurately distributing information about menstruation, free of censorship, and that appeal to local audiences. Through this, information becomes more accessible and useful. We train women and girls within the locality to act as advocates in order to be strong voices within the community. It is the very foundation that breeds acceptance and causes sustainable change because the community is more likely to listen to and follow the advice of their own community leaders. We collaborate with NGOs, international organizations, and local authorities where necessary to help us navigate the regulatory challenges and secure the necessary support to our initiatives. Such an engagement also enhances our advocacy work and allows us more resources to our programs.