Western Values vs Traditional

I love who I am, I am Maori, I was brought up with my own traditional values that makes me unique. These values are in constant contention with western ways and western values. We are being told how to be in society, how to be model citizens and be essentially white. We were clothed, after living years without covering. Because it was seen as indecent and obscene in their eyes. Yet it wasn't our men who saw our nakedness as such, it was white men who instead of averting their eyes ogled. The temptation was too raw, that we were forced to wear western clothes. Our bodies seen as objects of lust, yet it was us who paid the price by submitting. Wrong perhaps yet not unlike what takes place in today's world. African has aid workers nestled in their villages, equipping them with western needs, ideals and tools. Sanitary products that are not accessible, let alone the means to dispose of them. I had an awesome conversation with an African woman last night on this very issue. Watoto thought it was a great idea to appeal for undies for girls in Uganda, as the drop out rate for girls once menses set it was high. As the girls had no underwear to attach sanitary products, they dropped out. So in come undies from all stretches of the earth to help. Problem 1: constant supply of undies, affordability. Problem 2: access to sanitary products, affordability, disposal. Problem 3: the undies could be seen as an encouragement for sexual advances - very real, very true and this is taking place NOW. What would have been the traditional ways of personal hygiene? Cloth naturally, that was washed and soaked and reused. Simple, yet seen as disgusting because you are handling your blood. You are touching your blood. Your menses is seen as a disgusting thing, yet it's who we are. It's our gift as woman to bleed on a monthly basis. When we know it as a gift, when we treat it like a gift, we respect ourselves more. The world has so much to learn about the traditional ways of old, yet we have western woman taking on these values increasingly. Woman of colour are rich in knowledge, yet it's being taken from us. It's being mass produced into something new, something novel and yet something so so right!