We Were Told Cloth is Dirty - But Is It Really?

Pad Man got it right, we just didn't listen carefully.

In the movie Pad Man, a scene unfolds quietly yet leaves a lasting impression. A village woman lowers her eyes as she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. When she admits she uses cloth during her periods, the air thickens with discomfort. Faces tighten. Someone recoils. Then comes the line: “Ganda kapda mat istemal karo”(Don't use dirty cloth)

Not don’t use cloth.

Somewhere between cinema halls and real life, that distinction disappeared.

Ananya, a 16-year-old student from Pune, remembers learning about periods through silence more than speech. Pads were hidden in school bags, exchanged in washrooms with taps running loudly as plastic covers were removed. At home, conversations were brief and cautious.

“Cloth was always described as unhygienic,” she says, twisting her watch strap. “But no one ever explained why. It was just something we were told to avoid.”

Ananya’s experience mirrors that of countless teenagers in India. A small high-school survey found 9 out of 10 students felt periods were still treated quietly and without questions. Where information does not reach, myths do. One of the strongest myths is that cloth pads are dirty, while disposable pads are automatically clean and safe.

But reality is more complicated.

Disposable sanitary pads entered the market wrapped in words like fresh, modern, and hygienic. Brand names promised safety and softness. Advertisements showed women in white clothes, running freely and smiling without worry. Cloth, by contrast, became associated with infection and shame. 

Over time, perception replaced understanding. Hygiene depends not on material alone, but on use. 

Health professionals explain that infections usually come from prolonged dampness, trapped heat, and bacterial growth. Many disposable pads contain plastic layers that restrict airflow. In India’s hot and humid climate, this trapped moisture can cause rashes and irritation — discomfort often endured quietly.

Cloth pads, when washed thoroughly with soap and dried in sunlight, allow the skin to breathe. Sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant. The problem was improper washing, unsafe drying, and lack of awareness.

Some users find cloth pads may shift, stick, or feel bulky at first. Others hesitate because washing menstrual blood feels uncomfortable. Cloth pads also require clean water, privacy, and time which is not always available.

These concerns are real and dismissing them would be unfair.

Though the majority of them come from the thinking that menstrual blood is impure and dirty, menstrual blood is medically normal, simply the shedding of the uterine lining. Yet cultural stigma has long painted it as impure. Prolonged exposure to plastic-based pads can increase irritation due to limited air circulation, while cloth pads, maintained properly, reduce dampness and friction.

Disposable pads became popular for these practical reasons. They are easy to use, widely available, and require no maintenance. Teenagers juggling school, travel, and social pressure find them reassuring - no washing, no drying, and less chance of mistakes. In emergencies or limited privacy, disposables often feel safest. 

But convenience comes with trade-offs.

A used disposable pad lasts far longer than its user — 200 to 300 years to decompose. Millions are discarded in India every month, filling landfills, clogging drainage, or being burned, releasing toxicity into the air we breathe.Thsi became an issue for India as a whole where we top in air pollution and poor waste management.

Cloth pads, reusable and long-lasting, can replace hundreds of disposables over time. Something used briefly should not scar the planet permanently.

Today’s market is already shifting. Women-led startups such as Boondh, Unipads, The Woman’s Company, and StoneSoup now produce reusable cloth pads designed for comfort and hygiene. These are not folded rags, but stitched products with absorbent layers, snap buttons, and clear instructions. 

This reflects growing awareness of health, sustainability, and local employment. Cloth pads are a one-time investment, economical over time, and the market is increasingly driven by consciousness rather than mere convenience.

And if we go back to the movie- Pad Man- he was right all along. It just took listening smartly not blindly.

Because Pad Man never warned against cloth; it warned against ignorance.

When our 16 year old Ananya finally tried cloth pads, she didn’t rush. She researched, asked questions, and spoke to trusted friends.

“At first, I was scared I’d do something wrong,” she admits. “But once I understood how to wash and store them properly, it felt empowering — like I was finally listening to my body.”

So, is the cloth really dirty?

This conversation isn’t about forcing change or creating guilt. It’s about replacing fear with facts and giving teenagers the dignity of informed choice. Like Ananya, they deserve answers — not whispers.

The problem was never cloth.

It was the silence stitched around it.

Written by Shrutika Navale, Grade 9, Avasara Academy, Pune

Shrutika wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's Nov'25 cohort.