At eight years old, I sat on the cold tiles in my living room in Jaipur. Around me were my aunts, uncles, cousins, and my mom when I was exposed to it. It filled the television screen — almost looked like a sheet of cotton that was folded and cut into an airplane-like shape. Blue liquid gushed onto the sheet, and the sheet absorbed it just as fast. A girl a few years older than me smiled. That was the end of the ad. Was that an ad for a blue drink? Was that an ad for the crazy absorbent airplane-napkin hybrid?
“Mummy, woh kya hai?” I whispered to her.
No response.
“MOM. What is that?”
Everyone heard me.
My eyes met my uncle’s eyes who looked at me with a blank stare. My grandpa looked at my mom in disgust as my mom’s face turned red and her eyes stared me down with frustration.
I didn’t know what happened but I knew something was wrong. As the air in the room relaxed, my mom rose and whispered to me that I come into our bedroom.
Confused, I followed her, made eye contact with her tear stained eyes and was subjected to silent rage made in stifled tones through gound teeth.
“Older girls use it when they bleed from their private part. Don’t be such an idiot ever again,” she said.
Why didn’t anyone ever show me what a pad looked like? It would’ve saved my mom the embarrassment and me the guilt. The funny thing though is I still didn’t know it was a pad. In my eight-year-old brain, it was a bandaid for when girls’ private parts got a boo-boo.
Three years flew by and I had yet to hear someone mention the word pad to me. However, as puberty hit, my mom started to instill the idea of a period into me. She told me that “my time would come” and I would “become a woman” soon. Yet, when I got my period for the first time none of that at-home education affected me on that fateful summer day.
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At 12 years old, I sat on the cold tiles of my Spanish classroom floor. I volunteered to participate in an activity thinking it would help distract me from the weird pain in my stomach. Cross-legged, I sat giggling with my other classmates on my floor when my teacher walked over and whispered to me to “look down.”
My eyes were drawn to the grey specks on the tiles when she whispers “look down” again. And then I see it. A ginormous brown stain splattered across my pants.
‘I probably sat on something weird… looks like chocolate,’ I nonchalantly said to my grimacing Spanish teacher.
‘Head down to the nurse Pranjal,’ she demanded.
When the nurse told me that I got my period and that I should call my mom, my brain went into panic mode. I couldn’t understand why though — my mom had mentioned that Aunt Flo would be visiting soon. I just didn’t expect her to bring so much pain and confusion.
My mom entered the nurse’s office, walked with me to the bathroom and showed me how to put on a pad. There it was. It looked familiar — but that was my first time seeing it in person and holding it in all of its white glory. This time, the funny thing was that I had held a condom in health class before and I knew how to apply one on a cucumber, but I had never held a pad before.
Facing the cruel effects of the stigma Indian culture places on menstruation and the lack of education, I was inspired to bring the fight for menstrual equity to my community.
Menstrual equity is the notion that menstruation should not inhibit someone’s productivity or limit their success. It involves fighting for period education across ages, genders, and schools, providing better access to period products, destigmatizing menstruation, and ensuring that the institutional discrimination menstruators face in the form of tampon taxes is no eradicated.
Barely anyone in my community knew what that meant, and by not knowing what all the sects of menstrual equity entailed, they were victims of improper period education.
The imagery of young Nepali girls forced to sleep outside in tents alone while menstruating, a practice called chaupadi, coupled with videos of young British boys revealing their lack of period knowledge aroused something in my peers. I witnessed girls share the stories of the first time they got their periods. There was even one boy that shared his sister’s period story and how he wished he had the knowledge to help her at the time. Seeing my peers latch onto a cause so personal and important to me bought eight-year-old me, 12-year-old me, and 17-year-old me so much joy and satisfaction. My peers didn’t know it at first, but menstrual inequity plagued their lives.
Here are some other ways they faced menstrual inequity:
“Many of my female classmates are called out for going to the bathroom with a little bag for hygiene and they can’t do their business”
“You can’t talk about your period openly because people might get grossed out”
“Men don’t understand the topic well.”
“Tampons are unaffordable”
“A period stain or leak is the ultimate social suicide or is ‘disgusting’. Why should women have to apologize for their period? They shouldn’t.”
“When boys said ew”
“When customers ask for tampons at work, but our bathrooms don’t supply them”
“When period pain and cramps aren’t seen as valid.”
My classmates didn’t know that they faced menstrual inequity until I exposed them to do it at a class workshop. I curated and moderated a panel of speakers to come to my high school to discuss menstrual inequity combined with other gender inequity issues. Among the panelists was Nadya Okamoto, founder of the organization Period. A combination of the rhetoric from the lesson plans and Nadya’s efforts and experiences lead to the creation of Herricks Period. Founded by a group of younger girls, my high school’s chapter of Period will ensure that the change I hoped to bring to my community will remain long-lasting and sustainable. Education, grassroots organizing, and a group of passionate people inspired others to find their voice and join the cause.
REAL and easy ways to fight for menstrual equity:
Have a “Period. End of Sentence” Viewing Party
Read Nadya Okamoto’s book, Period Power
Talk about periods. Openly. Don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed for something natural.
Entertain menstruation related questions/ask menstruation related questions
Stop making PMS jokes. PMS Jokes imply that periods are a reason for someone to make fun of you.
Destigmatize periods in your family. It’s hard but all it involves is talking about it openly with the males in your family. Once they’re accustomed to it, the females tend to follow suit.
Ask your health teacher to do a pad/tampon demonstration
Celebrate your period in small ways. Appreciate your fertility and good health.
Share educational resources (like the one included below)
Raise the awareness of others around you in whatever way that may be. For example, the girls from my high school are asking the entire student body to wear red on menstrual hygiene day. Be creative!
Pranjal Jain is an 18-year-old social justice organizer and activist. As a former undocumented immigrant, woman, and Indian-American, Pranjal’s personal … Read more ›
Emily Harwitz is a journalist, photographer, and podcaster whose work focuses on making the outdoors a more inclusive place. Coming from a background in chemistry and ecology, Harwitz uses her knowledge to tell stories about the environment. She has written for many publications including High Country News, Hakai Magazine, Mongabay, Chemical & Engineering News, and more. Harwitz is an ambassador for Girls Who Click which is a nonprofit that empowers women to forge their paths in conservation photography. Her creativity does not stop there as Harwitz is also the host and producer of the Save the Redwoods League podcast: “I’ll Go If You Go.” Harwitz has explored a range of topics such as forest bathing, skateboarding, and building an inclusive community in the outdoors. Her stories do not stop there as Harwitz is always on the move looking for her next story. Continue reading to learn more about Emily Harwitz’s journey.
The term inclusion when it comes to the environment and outdoors does not always go together. How can we make the outdoors a more inclusive place?
The outdoors is inherently inclusive because, the moment you step outside, you’re outdoors, regardless of who you think you are. What needs to change is how we think about who is and isn’t “natural,” or what’s a “natural” way to behave. The natural way to be is however you are.
How have your personal experiences in nature affected the way you look at the rest of the world?
When I’m in nature, I feel the smallness of my being in the context of the bigness of the natural world. But the amazing thing is, when I slow down to look around, smell the air, touch the dirt, I feel like I’m a part of that nature, too. It’s really comforting to feel connected to something so vast outside myself. I no longer think it’s hoaky to say that appreciating nature’s beauty is spiritual for me. It just feels so good to look at water sparkling in the sun, or a dusting of purple and yellow flowers in a gently waving field of grass. Watching how animals and other creatures seem to flow through their landscapes is also a spiritual experience. How perfect they seem! And wow, I’m an animal, too!
This brings up some important questions: In what context do I exist that effortlessly? How can I foster that feeling for myself in my daily life? How can I foster that feeling for others? And how can I connect other people to that feeling of “I love being alive!”? That fuels so much of my work—wanting to share the feeling of what I experience in nature with others.
As you have covered many stories for various publications as a reporter, is there one that specifically calls out to you that you would like to expand upon?
I just wrote a story about biophobia, or the fear of nature, for Hakai Magazine and it got picked up by The Atlantic. I’m pretty stoked about that because this is a really important topic. The story’s about how certain aspects of modern life, like urbanization and the ensuing lack of daily nature experiences, are driving people to feel increasingly disconnected from nature. This not only impacts conservation, but also human health because nature provides so many benefits to physical and mental health. Here’s a good article introducing a growing body of research about the health benefits of nature immersion. Nature also provides the opportunity to feel connected to something bigger than ourselves, which I believe is an important thing to experience.
As someone who is in the field of environmentalism do you feel this influences you to follow a vegetarian or even vegan diet which is more supportive of animals from all walks of life?
Absolutely. Animals from all walks of life, I like that! I eat a pretty pescatarian diet and try to use Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch to look up the seafood I eat. I feel strongly about what I put in my body and where it comes from. Beyond the sustainability and health concerns of factory-farmed animals, I am deeply disturbed by the conditions animals are subjected to in factory farms. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up. If you do know what I’m talking about and you’re still eating conventionally-raised factory-farmed animals, I’d urge you to take another look. We all exist in systems, though, and I know it can be hard for people to totally overhaul their diets—especially with things like ag-gag laws in the US blocking the spread of information about the conditions farm animals are raised in. It’s a privilege to even be able to consider where I’m getting my food from, considering the vast food deserts in the US and how inaccessible fresh produce is for many. So, my hope is for a growing collective consciousness about our food systems that eventually leads to regenerative agriculture that’s healthy for all of us on this planet.
Are there any brands we can support which push the message of inclusion?
I think we should all consume less, so I’m going to recommend a few organizations promoting equitable outdoor access, diversity, and inclusivity: Skate Like a Girl, Feminist Bird Club, The Outdoorist Oath, Brown Girl Surf, Queer Asian Social Club, Hike Clerb. All of these orgs have great Instagram pages so you can fill your feed with diverse stories and faces. I guess this is still a kind of consumption, but hopefully an inspiring and generative kind!
How has Girls Who Click empowered you to get into the field of nature photography?
Girls Who Click connected me with an incredible filmmaking mentor, Dewi Marquis, who is also mixed Asian American. In addition to practical advice for film shoots, we’ve talked about work and life as women of color and the importance of listening to our own intuition during the creative process. Dewi’s involved with some great filmmaking organizations that I think the Brown Girl Magazine community would be interested in: Asian American Documentary Network, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, and Film Fatales.
As you have explored a range of topics on the Save The Redwoods League Podcast: “I’ll Go If You Go,” what are your plans for the newest season and how can we help support?
Thanks for this question! This new season is all about building community outdoors—hearing guests’ stories about how they started and grew their awesome community groups and organizations. My hope is that people can hear these stories and then go foster their own communities, wherever they are. All of our guests started with the desire to connect more with nature and others who can relate to their experiences as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2S+ folks in the outdoors. If you identify with either or both of those categories, this podcast is for you! It’s by us, for us. The best way to support would be to listen, rate us 5 stars (if that’s how you feel), and share with friends. You can also follow the podcast on IG at @illgoifyougopodcast.
What is the Emily Harwitz starter kit for going camping or hiking?
I love this question! For hiking, aka a big walk outside, I always bring: a least one 32 oz. water bottle, a thermos of tea (oolong or green), a notebook or sketchbook, a pen or pencil. Sometimes I’ll bring a book that I don’t end up reading (how can I when there’s so much pretty nature to look at?), a tub of strawberries or other in-season fruit, my camera (currently shooting on a Sony alpha 6300 and a G200-600 lens). One of these days, I’m planning to bring my flute and a field recorder (Zoom H5). For going camping, I’d say: Make plans with a friend who already has lots of gear and likes to plan camping trips! Or there are lots of organizations that host camping trips you can sign up for. One day, I’ll go solo-backpacking, but I really enjoy camping with friends.
If you could go hiking with anyone in the world who would it be and why?
My Chinese grandpa who recently passed away. He loved nature, especially flowers, and I would love to go for a hike with to appreciate the beauty of nature together.
Who are your conservation heroes?
Personally: my grandmother who worked as lawyer to protect the environment in Florida, where I grew up. She introduced me to the whole world of conservation at an early age and I have so many joyful memories sifting through sargassum weed with her for tiny little shrimp and crabs, or looking for monarch caterpillars in the garden.
Thinking globally: Indigenous peoples around the world who steward and protect the lands they live on—including 80% of the world’s biodiversity. There’s growing recognition of this, and I hope to see more respect, protection, resources, and political action dedicated to Indigenous peoples who are doing this important work.
Do you feel that we will see a change and more representation in the outdoors?
Definitely! It’s already happening. Social media has actually been really beneficial in this regard because people can form their own communities online and share media and resources relevant to them. The outdoors industry is moving slower, but I’m seeing more initiatives to diversify marketing and such. The industry will have to adapt to include the people of the global majority if it wants to survive.
What do you see as the future for the outdoors?
Biodiverse (including humans!), inclusive, healthy, thriving, accessible experiences for adaptive skill levels. I am optimistic!
The sweet smell of petrichor, a cup of tea, and the redwoods. What more could you ask for?
True! Maybe an animal in the bushes nearby and a human friend to share it all with :)
In an age where algorithms dictate viewership, Nancy Jay uses her love of dance to propel herself onto TikTok’s “for you” pages. Jay is an Indo Guyanese, Bronx native who began dancing at the age of three. As an influencer and content creator, she amassed a social media following of more than 500,000. Versed in many styles of dancing including Caribbean, Bollywood, urban and Latin, Jay can be spotted in soca music videos such as Linky First’s “Rock and Come in” and “Jeune Femme,” Adrian Dutchin’s “Roll” and by soca king Machel Montano’s “Mami Lo Tiene.”
Many content creators are typecast into the niche but Jay has defied this norm and proclaims she is more than just a dancer.
“I dance, travel, post lifestyle and beauty content. I’m an Indo Caribbean woman who enjoys being myself and promoting my culture. I like showing viewers it is okay to be who they are and embrace what they look like, despite what they see on social media. I did not plan on being a TikToker. As I started posting videos, the love and support I received from viewers was amazing. I have never experienced anything like that before on Instagram, where I started my content journey,” Jay said.
In conversation with Jay, the following answers have been condensed for concision and clarity.
Why is it important for you to create content related to your Indo Caribbean roots?
Growing up, I never felt represented as an Indo Caribbean on television, in movies, social media or anywhere else. My goal as a content creator is to promote the Indo Caribbean culture through my content and be the representation the Indo Caribbean community needs.
Are there unspoken rules about being a content creator or an Indo Caribbean woman on the platform?
Being an Indo Caribbean woman on TikTok can be challenging when you are trying to find your identity and do not feel represented.
Jay explains her frustration with the lack of Caribbean representation and acknowledgment from platforms, as well as her goals as a content creator in this video.
Do you ever experience a block, similar to writer’s block, when it comes to creating content? How do you overcome that?
I have yet to experience a block. However, I do have days where I want to take a break and just relax instead of filming. As a content creator, it is important to take breaks and schedule days to just relax because being a full-time content creator is a 24/7 business. It can be draining and you may lose your sense of reality when you have the mindset that everything is content. I enjoy taking a day or half a day to cook, watch TV or go shopping with my partner without the worry of filming any of it.
How has your social media presence changed your daily life?
When I am in public, supporters approach me to express their love for my content and sometimes ask for a selfie. When I find people staring at me in public now, it’s most likely because they recognize me from social media and not because I look funny.
In May of 2021, I used my platform to reach out to brands and ask for their support in a project I named ‘Nancy Jay Gives Back.’ I put together care packages, using products donated by brands, and drove around the Bronx sharing them with people experiencing homelessness or those in need. Seeing the happiness on their faces upon receiving these bags was priceless. Additionally, I spread some extra joy through dance. I remember one lady telling me she’d never been to a club or party so I told her I’ve brought the party to her and we danced to her favorite genre of music right there on the street.
Jay plans on continuing this project as her social media presence has grown.
How has your family reacted to your social presence?
My family has always been supportive of my talents and the path I have chosen. My first public dance performance was at the age of 12. I performed a fusion of Bollywood and chutney music at middle school events. When I got to high school, I participated in our talent show to a fusion of Bollywood, chutney, soca and top 40. I won the talent show three or four times. I also performed for fundraisers organized by mandirs in Queens, the Bronx, weddings, sweet sixteens and other social events.
My family always came out to support me. They love seeing my content and always encourage me to film and create. My mom in particular tells everyone about my TikTok videos.
While enrolled at John Jay College, Jay founded the first West Indian student organization called “West Indies Massive.” She captained the dance team, taught dance classes and won the talent show multiple times while pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in law and police studies.
Any advice for creators who may not have the support of family?
Do not let this discourage you. If content creation is something you truly want to do, stay consistent and eventually your family will support you for doing what you love. Social media is still new to some and the idea of it being someone’s career or business is new as well. I say be patient. Also, talk to them about your social media goals, as perhaps they do not understand the full picture.
What is your dream partnership and why?
My dream partnership would involve acting. I’ve always wanted to be an actress, preferably a Bollywood actress because I know I would kill those dance numbers (haha!). Also, I would love to partner with Sandals Resorts and bring that Caribbean flavor they should be promoting.
Jay has collaborated with major brands like Samsung Mobile, Norwegian Cruise Line, AC Hotels, Disney Music Group, and Dunkin which is paramount for the Indo Caribbean community.
“I am the first Indo Caribbean woman to work with Norwegian Cruise Line as a content creator. Cruise travel is a huge part of my content journey. I love cruising and creating unique experiences and content. While cruising, I connected with the crew while most people typically do not. I treat everyone with respect,” Jay said
“I started a fun series called ‘Cruise Dances with the Crew’ back in August of 2021. There’s a playlist on TikTok with all of the fun dances. Prior to my first video, I had not seen anyone dancing on cruise ships with the crew. I guess you could say I started that trend.”
Nancy intertwined this partnership with her content and further put herself on the map.
Another pivotal partnership for Jay occurred in March 2021 when Dunkin chose her as one of 10 from a nationwide competition to feature her signature drink on the local menu.
How has content creation changed in the past two years?
Within the past two years, my content and style has grown tremendously. My gear list has also grown tremendously. I’ve been a content creator full time for a little over a year now. I have had more time to focus on the presentation and editing of my content.
What else do you want your viewers to not know about you or your work?
I stay true to who I am. Supporters who I’ve met in person can attest that I am the same, in-person and online. I like to keep things relatable, fun and authentic. I am working with a lot of big brands. I try to incorporate dance in all my content to capture my passion, diversity and culture.
I started teaching Caribbean Dance Fitness classes and private dance lessons officially in 2016. Since Covid, I moved everything online. Not only have I helped many learn how to dance but I have also helped build their confidence through dance and expression.
Lastly, I love traveling and encouraging others to live their best life.
Jay is more than a dancer; she is unapologetically herself. She maximizes opportunities and is building a brand that highlights her Indo Caribbean roots – a culture often not highlighted in mainstream media.
You can stay updated on Jay and the community she’s created by following her on Instagram,TikTok andYouTube.
