Period Paradox: A Review of Menstrual Policy Discourse in Indian Workspaces

Abstract

Menstruation is a critical and largely invisible factor that influences female labor force participation, workplace productivity, and professional dignity, particularly in India. Despite over half of the Indian workforce being affected by menstrual health, corporate and legislative frameworks often operate under a gender-neutral standard that fails to account for biological needs, creating what this study defines as the Period Paradox. This narrative review synthesizes current academic, legal, and policy discourse surrounding menstrual leave in Indian workspaces to identify systemic barriers and evaluate the feasibility of standardized policy implementation. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a hybrid narrative review was conducted. A search of five electronic databases (including Google Scholar and PubMed) identified 52 records published between 2018 and 2025. After a two-stage screening process, 36 foundational papers were selected for thematic synthesis. The literature was synthesized into three core themes: (1) Stigma and Internalization (n=8), highlighting how socio-cultural "purity" taboos and disclosure anxiety (the Privacy Paradox) deter leave utilization; (2) Health and Productivity (n=13), quantifying the economic impact of "Presenteeism" where chronic menstrual pain leads to significant annual productivity leaks; and (3) Policy and Gender Norms (n=15), examining the tension between constitutional rights to dignity and the pragmatic risks of othering women in the labor market. The review concludes that menstrual leave is a constitutional imperative under Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, yet its success depends on moving beyond isolated policies toward a rights-based normalization.