Every May 28, nonprofits, government agencies, the private sector, the media, and individuals come together to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day. To create awareness about menstrual hygiene and bust myths about periods, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) India has started #RedDotChallenge.
One can take up the challenge by posting a photograph of themselves with a red dot on their palms and tagging UNICEF and mentioning the red dot challenge. Throughout the micro-blogging site, men, women, young girls and even boys could be seen participating in the challenge.
Union Minister Smriti Irani takes the viral “Guess the Gibberish Challenge” on Instagram
From Aditi Rao Haydari to Kubra Sait took up this challenge to raise awareness with the help of social media.
Aditi Rao Haydari taking up the challenge shared a picture on Instagram and wrote, “Put a period to shaming the period. @post.for.change @unicefindia #RedDotChallenge #PostForChange”
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Put a period to shaming the period. @post.for.change @unicefindia #RedDotChallenge #PostForChange
‘Happy Bhaag Jayegi’ actor Diana Penty took up the challenge and shared a message on period-shaming. Diana took to her Instagram handle and wrote, “It’s about time we put a ‘period’ to period shaming. Cos there’s no shame in it ?♀️? @post.for.change @unicefindia #RedDotChallenge #PostForChange”
Sacred Games star Kubbra Sait also shared a picture on Instagram and wrote, “ #Reddotchallenge Literally two months have gone by, I’ve sat here and waited for the one thing that is constant in the world of absurdity around us. My periods ?This lockdown has given me the time to take it easy on my body… rest well… stay hydrated and love myself. I hope you’ll do the same now and through and through this time. Be well. Be healthy. Be proud of your cycle and listen to your body. @post.for.change @unicefindia #RedDotChallenge #PostForChange”
The #RedDotChallenge is conducted by UNICEF India every year during Menstrual Hygiene week. This year, Menstrual Hygiene Day recognizes that periods do not stop for pandemics and will continue to drive home the idea It’s Time for Action. This theme highlights the urgency for the collective work needed to both change the negative social norms surrounding menstruation and also catalyze progress toward empowering women and girls to unlock their educational and economic opportunities.
