Dear @Zomato,

Thank You! This is a brilliant move & much needed. When we raised this issue earlier through @ProfCong, we saw several people opposing this demand. In this thread, I want to explain the rationale behind this policy.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave https://twitter.com/Zomato/status/1292031987553722371

2/ Every push for making work places gender inclusive comes with the argument about its economic cost,

Economic cost cannot be the trump argument when we are debating gender equal workplaces. Equality Over Economy

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

3/ What about economic cost?
Ans - Then why build breast feeding centers, why have paternity leave equal to maternity leave, why insist on baby nurseries in office compounds? This argument was raised even when the maternity leave in India was increased.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

4/ I am a woman. I don't have any pain. I don't need Menstrual Leave.

Then you don't have to avail it. There's enough evidence to suggest that some women have severe pain during menstruation equal to a heartache.
It's 'Optional' for women who suffer.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

5/ Will it be 'misused' ?

Yes, but then again all pro-women laws can be. Will more women benefit from it? Yes. Same argument was used when DV Law was introduced.

Women are equally professional, so they won't want to take leave unless they have to.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

6/ Why not have 'Sickness Leave' instead, equally for all genders?

Because Menstruation is not sickness. We have to be careful of the role of Langauge in perpetuating biases.

Sickness Leave should indeed be equal for all. But Men don't Menstruate.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

7/ Why do we make it about Binary Choices?

Environment v. Economy

Values v. Economy

Equality v. Economy

We have to strive to 'balance'.
Equality is not sameness - it is nuanced - that is the entire basis for affirmative action or Reservation.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

8/ Let's just have more leave for everyone, okay?!

Sorry, but that is a very upper caste privileged male Perspective. The world is gendered. We have to move towards perfect equality but also be mindful of where we are in the stage of evolution.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

9/ When we caricature it as 'sickness', it explains the taboo prevalent in most of our homes, where throwing the ancient logic out of window, we are asked to 'sit' separately for atleast two days and everything we touch is washed.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

10/ The solution is creating more awareness, sensitising men to problems of women.

Yes, that is important but the answer to policy correction cannot be
- teach, create awareness. Period. These can be additional but not the 'only' solutions.

#ISupportMenstruationLeave

11/ Yes but @Zomato used this only as a marketing gimmick.

No, not every good policy is Marketing alone. It is the sensitisation and value system of those who are at top of it and run the company. Else the world would have been a much nicer place.

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

12/ I am still not Convinced.

Okay, watch this video perhaps :


Read more about Zomato's policy perhaps: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=159713652376123&id=111728423841313

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

13/ While we are on the subject of 'Menstruation', give this a read too -

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/my-menstrual-blood-there-are-overwhelming-taboos-around-menstruation-in-india-which-make-a-girls-life-miserable/

And this :
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=132547291759426&id=111728423841313&sfnsn=wiwspmo&extid=p4eoGjGMDlpkDBAE

#ISupportMenstrualLeave

Alright, what do I do, if I want to read more and take action?

Read and sign the Petition Here :

https://www.change.org/p/the-indian-government-make-laws-policy-declaring-menstrual-leave-for-women?recruiter=11245711

With @ShashiTharoor @SalmanSoz @ProfCong @DelhiAipc @karunanundy

#ISupportMenstrualLeave