Recently, when Zomata introduced the Period Leave of 10 days for its employees, many netizens across the internet were divided. While many welcomed the move, some showed concerns and some outrightly criticized the idea. But, one voice that stood out on Twitter was of Barkha Dutt.
Criticizing the Zomato’s decision of Period Leaves, journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted,
“Sorry Zomato, as woke as your decision on #PeriodLeave is, this is exactly what ghettoizes women and strengthens biological determinism. We cannot want to join the infantry, report war, fly fighter jets, go into space, want no exceptionalism and want period leave. PLEASE.”
Barkha Dutt further added:
The other thing hideous about the idea of Period Leave is how it turns a normal biological experience into some sort of monumental event, gendering us at the work place when we have fought so hard to not be gendered. You can troll me all you want. Wont change my mind on this
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) August 11, 2020
Though, we do respect Barkha Dutt for being the strong lady she has been. But we had concerns when she raised her viewpoints on behalf of the whole women community.
Because critics like Barkha Dutt might not want Period Leaves but there are still many who want it because we are neither blessed with the same bodies nor with the same support system?
Did she forget that she may have the right to be vocal about her choices but she can’t take away the right of making a choice from other women?
How can we hide behind an argument of companies not hiring women because they may avail Period Leaves? Because the company that is offering Period Leaves in the first place is the one that is open to embracing gender diversity. Because in the end, men and women are equal but not similar.
But it wasn’t only us who had such concerns, many women across Twitter came forward to express their disagreement with the statement:
Sorry Barkha, I strongly disagree. Period experiences are different for different women and no one person can speak for all. Those who suffer from extreme forms of it, and have for years, we didn’t choose this. The burden of not being discriminated against should not be on us.
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) August 11, 2020
This image might help explain why different supports are needed for equity. Women undergo menstruation, men don’t. That doesn’t mean we ignore what women go through, it means we put supports in place to ensure equity. pic.twitter.com/YtGDXxgFWx
— Shikha Prashad (@shikhaprashad) August 11, 2020
Equality doesn’t mean erasing biological differences, it means accounting for them.
— Asmita (@asmitaghosh18) August 11, 2020
There are women/young girls who suffer a lot during periods. Sometimes hrs pass by evn after having pain killer. I used to have black outs. That has changed after childbirth but I’m sure there are plenty like the earlier me, as I already saw in the comments. They need it. I did.
— Tina BK (@tina_bkaran) August 11, 2020
So just dont take that leave ! why not let the women who suffer from extreme pain cramps (& the pain can be mind mind numbing) take the damn leave if she wants without feeling guilty . why saddle women with this extra GUILT ? let the girl chose herself without guilt .
— Richa Lakhera (@RICHA_LAKHERA) August 11, 2020
Feminists big mistake is to replace the fight for woman’s dignity and freedom with the mission to make women bad copies of men
— Akshat Khandelwal (@akshat_khan) August 11, 2020
At IFORHER, we believe men and women are EQUAL but not IDENTICAL. So rather than diminishing the biological differences, we should embrace them. Who are we to take away that choice from others, who experience Periods differently from us?
What do you think about Period Leaves? Don’t forget to let us know.