(MENAFN - Asia Times) In January, a popular Turkish actress and social-media celebrity named Ceyda Düvenci found herself vilified as a 'bad mother.' Her crime? Posting on Instagram about a significant event: her daughter's first menstrual period.
Opinion among Düvenci's 2.7 million followers was deeply divided. Some said she was 'disgusting,' especially as her daughter suffers from cerebral palsy. Others, however, praised Düvenci for making a stand against a taboo that continues to ensure the gender gap remains as wide as ever around the world.
The average woman will have 400 to 500 periods in her lifetime. Yet what is a natural bodily function is still treated in many parts of the world as a source of shame. Worse, it inhibits the advancement of girls and women and any hope of achieving equality in society.