Perception about menstruation affects how cultures view girls and women, and the myths that surround menstruation can subject women to discrimination throughout their entire lives. In cultures that menstruation is seen as a curse, women's bodies are stigmatized and cause their banishment from normal activities. But in some cultures, menstruation is a sign of maturity and girls are now thought to be marriageable age - leading to child marriages and pregnancies that can harm their young bodies.

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The silence that surrounds menstruation makes girls feel ashamed of their bodies, leading them to feel they deserve the inequality they face. Because of this shame and the absence of public restrooms, many women choose to manage menstruation at home, meaning that they cannot participate in cultural, educational, social, and income-generating activities. Inadequate menstrual hygiene causes women to miss out on important parts of their daily lives, leaving them by the wayside and allowing men to make all of the decisions.

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Furthermore, these prohibitions from religious, social, and domestic activities lead to isolation and further stigmatize women. Because of the taboos surrounding menstruation, girls do not have sexual education and are not taught about their reproductive health rights - allowing practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation to continue. 

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When women are taught to believe that a natural part of their body is harmful and shameful, it creates an environment in which women do not feel confident enough to stand up for their rights or do not even know that they have any.

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Sources: 1 & 2