What Life Is Like When Getting Your Period Means You Are Shunned

In India, when I was a kid, my much older cousin sister was not allowed to cook, had to ask someone if she is thirsty and she eats separately. I had an inkling of her period but never understood why the outcast - was it religious or something else.

Sometime around 8th grade, I learnt (was taught) about female menstruation and I realized the imposed restrictions, specially the ones based on religion were just 'imposed' by blindly instigating the 'religious' reasoning. I understood that it is not 'dirty' or 'un-religious'. Then I took up the task of giving her the food, water and be besides her during her period because I have understood and reasoned. That makes her easy and she can get to things quicker with me around, while I maintained to the elders that she is where they want to be.

Today, I'm married and I hug/cuddle my wife more during her period. She and other females in our generation are treated the same during and after their periods. This is the period when they are most vulnerable, needs looking after, to be cared and in a different mood.

I also see that the idea of alienation has reduced a lot in the modern Indian Society and is such a good thing happening forward. Unfortunately, I still see religious ceremonies and places of worship shunning them till today. This is also one reason why I never and will never respect such ceremonies, places with made-up rules and regulations.

What has this got to do with HN?

OT: What's the karma level at which one gains the ability to downvote HN stories? I have almost 4000 but can only see the up arrow.