Professional
mathematician Kiran Gandhi is a fun-loving young woman from New York. When she
sets her mind to something: she goes at it full keel. The young, able-bodied
American trained a whole year for her next big endeavor: the London Marathon. A
26-mile undertaking demanding a hefty supply of preparation and hard training.
But, the evening
before the marathon Kiran is upset. She is excited but nervous. When she lays down
to sleep, she notices that she was on her period! The young woman is desperate.
She can’t imagine running mile after mile with a tampon between her legs. So
she resolves to do something courageous.
Kiran feels lucky
and privileged to have access to female hygiene products. But, in this extreme
situation, she refuses to put more emphasis on the squeamish feelings of others
than her own wellbeing. She has invested an entire year of hard work and sweat
to take part in this marathon. She refuses to jeopardy all this out of shame of
her own bodily functions.
Despite heavy
abdominal pains and cramps, Kiran is steadfast determined to run the race. She
takes a OTC painkiller for the cramps and speeds off. Without tampon or other
protection. She wants to accomplish more than just her own wellbeing. She wants
to spread awareness that many women across the globe have no access to
comforting and sanitary female products. The lack of which often keeping girls
out of school from shame or infections.
But what Kiran also
wants to do is make a stand against shame: women should not have to hide
themselves because of a natural bodily process. Her idea is: what no one sees
is quickly waved off as “not so bad” or repressed as “nonexistent.” She wants
to end all the pussyfooting and smothering up by showing what 50% of the
Earth’s population deals with every month, often painfully.
But, during the
marathon doubts begin to surface. Is she exaggerating too much? Should she just
grab a tampon? But then something wonderful happens. Her father and brother
greet her at the edge of the course and cheer her on at full volume! They yell
her name and take pictures. Kiran tries to pull her shirt down at first but
then she notices: both men couldn’t care less about the bloodspot between her legs.
On her blog she
writes: “The two most important men in my life were on Team Feminism.” She
finishes the long race with her two friends, whose proceeds went to benefit
breast cancer treatment. She feels unbelievable afterward. She is overwhelmed
by the performance of both her body and spirits. And all hostility and
criticism against her decision ricochet off her own determination. But
naturally, the extraordinary feat is being discussed across the globe.
Unbelievably brave
or completely unnecessary? This woman’s performance is splitting the
commentary. Let everyone know that there are still such activists and share
this story with everyone you know!
Source: hefty.co