It’s no secret that the pressures of the festive season fall disproportionately on women. Over the years, studies have shown that the expectations of preparing for festivals – from spring cleaning to planning your social calendar and rituals – are mostly upon women, who also juggle their careers and personal lives. Most often, these pressures are swept under the rug, leading to a silent epidemic of isolation, mental health and fatigue.
The FemTech movement has risen from this gaping hole in our society that lacks understanding of women’s health, mind and bodies. So if you’re wondering what to gift the special women in your lives – be they friends, partners, family or spouse – this Diwali, have a look at these gifting options that come packed with science, aesthetics and more than anything, love and support.
A FemTech leader in sustainability, Papaya has shaped its menstruation products to prioritise not just women’s health and hygeine, but also provide people with menstruating bodies to choose a more green way to dispose off the waste. The company’s ethos especially speak to generations of women in India who also face period stigmas during the festive season. So this diwali, gift a Papaya pack of 9 menstrual pads for your loved one to show your commitment to the loved ones and the earth. And it doesn’t stop at that. Every money that comes to the company through the sale of their products goes to their grassroots efforts to dispel menstrual taboos, including through their parter NGO Myna Mahila Foundation that works with vulnerable communities. Price: Rs 248.
Gift your friend – single or not! – this aesthetically designed vibrator, along with intimate oils and lubricant in a packaging that’s discrete as well as sophisticated. Sassiest is among the femtech leaders when it comes to pleasure technology for women and is a great tool to unwind after a long, hectic day. Price: Rs 7,122.
Do you know someone with chronic pain, or a sports junkie always complaining about stiff muscles? Healthq Rehab has a fantastic list of recommended mobility tools that can be the perfect – albeit functional – gift. We’re especially looking at the vibrating massager mat and the supreme gun massager, available through the links on its website. The electrotherapy devices will be perfect for those who can self-manage the equipments at home.
This might be an unusual gift but the data might just be convincing: One in 53 women in India have cervical cancer, yet the percentage of women who undergo cervical cancer screening is just 1.9 percent. Proactive For Her has a great care package that can assist your loved one not just early detection but also HPV vaccine (4 variants, three doses), a pap smear and a gynaecologist consultation. Price Rs 13,600.
A 2020 study by Globocon found that every four minutes, a woman in India is diagnosed with breast cancer. Additionally, over 50 percent of the cases are often diagnosed at stage III or IV of the disease. This Diwali, gift your loved ones a chance to a rare early detection, and a heads-up to a lifetime of health care and support. Niramai Health Analytix, a Bengaluru-based deep-tech healthcare startup, has developed low-cost cancer-screening solutions in clinics across 30 cities in India that not only aids early detection but also provide preventive health check ups. Price: On request.
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