New Delhi: Following the controversial remark by Sabarimala Temple chief Prayar Gopalakrishnan that women will be allowed to enter the famous temple in Kerala only after ensuring that they are pure, a group of outraged women have launched a #HappyToBleed campaign on Facebook to protest against the ‘sexist statement'.
The unique protest is said to have garnered widespread support on Social media. The campaign, launched by a group of youngsters calls on women to hold placards/sanitary napkins/charts reading ‘Happy To Bleed' and post the pictures on their profiles or the campaign page to oppose the shame game played by patriarchal society since ages.
Gopalakrishnan has recently said that women will be allowed to offer prayer only after a machine was invented to detect if they were "pure" meaning that they weren't menstruating.
The campaign has already has nearly 100 confirmed participants while 500 more have been invited.
"I'm definitely #HappytoBleed all over patriarchy. More power to all equal rights movements!" a woman posted on its page.
“I have a uterus and I bleed once every-month. God does not get angry if I pray during my #periods. Mr. Prayar Gopalakrishnan and every one who thinks women are impure during their periods, don't forget its the same "Impurity" you survived on, for 9 months inside your mother's womb." says Aditi Gupta: Co-founder of www.menstrupedia.com
A girl named Nikita Azad is said to be spearheading the Facebook campaign, which was launched on Saturday. She wrote an open letter to Gopalakrishnan, stating the gender issues implicit in his "dilemma".
“Devaswom chief of Sabrimala temple, Kerala has given a sexist statement that once purity checking machines are invented, that check whether it is “right time” or not, (whether women are menstruating or not) are invented, he will think about letting women enter. By this statement, he has reinforced misogyny and strengthened myths that revolve around women,” says a statement posted on ''Happy To Bleed Facebook'' page.
“Happy To Bleed is a counter campaign launched against menstrual taboos, and sexism that women are subject to through it. It acknowledges menstruation as a natural activity which doesn't need curtains to hide behind,” the statement adds.
