A sexual and reproductive health rights approach to menstruation

McLaren, Margaret A.; Padhee, Monalisa

doi:10.1080/13552074.2021.1885218

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Yet interventions that focus on product provision alone have been criticised by activists for medicalising menstruation and failing to challenge social and cultural stigma, gender discrimination, marginalisation or inequality (McLaren and Padhee, 2021;Roberts, 2020). This overemphasis on product provision has been criticised as a neoliberal 'solution' to periods as a 'problem', which 'betrays [menstrual activism's] feminist roots' Fahs, 2020: 1009), raising questions regarding the compatibility of product provision with feminist approaches to menstrual stigma.…”

Section: Menstrual Activism and Institutional Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This overemphasis on product provision has been criticised as a neoliberal 'solution' to periods as a 'problem', which 'betrays [menstrual activism's] feminist roots' Fahs, 2020: 1009), raising questions regarding the compatibility of product provision with feminist approaches to menstrual stigma. Here, a sexual-reproductive-rights approach to menstrual health has been advanced, focusing more broadly on sociocultural stigma, menstruators' agency and the psychosocial experience of menstruation McLaren and Padhee, 2021). Fighting for improved menstrual health as a right may be more effective in challenging structural inequalities than focusing on ' xing' perceived de ciencies Briggs, 2021;Hennegan, 2017;McLaren and Padhee, 2021).…”

Section: Menstrual Activism and Institutional Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, a sexual-reproductive-rights approach to menstrual health has been advanced, focusing more broadly on sociocultural stigma, menstruators' agency and the psychosocial experience of menstruation McLaren and Padhee, 2021). Fighting for improved menstrual health as a right may be more effective in challenging structural inequalities than focusing on ' xing' perceived de ciencies Briggs, 2021;Hennegan, 2017;McLaren and Padhee, 2021). This involves systematically challenging the stigma surrounding menstruation to erode 'culturally rooted taboos' (Gottlieb, 2020: 152;Johnston-Robledo and Chrisler, 2013;Levitt and Barnack-Tavlaris, 2020).…”

Section: Menstrual Activism and Institutional Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is an important step in increasing accessibility of menstrual products, with 1 in 7 girls in the UK having struggled to afford sanitary products (Plan International UK, 2018), and a lack of access to menstrual products at university campuses causing distress and disruption for students and staff Sang et al, 2021). However, scholars have suggested that campaigns for menstrual equity must go beyond period product provision to challenge ongoing menstrual taboos and consider how this impacts individuals' dignity and human rights (Briggs, 2021;Loughman et al, 2020;McLaren and Padhee, 2021;Sang et al, 2021). Moving beyond a focus product provision can link menstrual health across different domains to structural, social and cultural obstacles to gender equality Loughman et al, 2020;McLaren and Padhee, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, scholars have suggested that campaigns for menstrual equity must go beyond period product provision to challenge ongoing menstrual taboos and consider how this impacts individuals' dignity and human rights (Briggs, 2021;Loughman et al, 2020;McLaren and Padhee, 2021;Sang et al, 2021). Moving beyond a focus product provision can link menstrual health across different domains to structural, social and cultural obstacles to gender equality Loughman et al, 2020;McLaren and Padhee, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Period Pain: Student Perceptions of the Ongoing Stigma Surrounding Menstruation at the University of Warwick and Potential Interventions to Counter Such Stigma

Carter

2024

Reinvention

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With ongoing menstrual stigma maintaining a culture of silence and secrecy in academic institutions, this research seeks to reveal student perceptions of this stigma at the University of Warwick, and understand their suggestions for how the University can better support menstruating students. Drawing on findings from a focus group of six menstruating students at the University of Warwick, the paper suggests that menstrual stigma persists at the University, affecting students’ wellbeing and academic performance. Participants expressed frustration at the lack of understanding of, or institutional support for, the difficulties of menstruation; including (but not limited to): debilitating pain, negative assumptions about the body, inaccessible menstrual products and inadequate hygiene facilities. However, certain students appear to be countering the cultural pressure to remain silent about menstruation, calling for the University to implement proactive measures to improve menstrual education, counter stigmatising assumptions and help menstruators mitigate the effects of pain and menstrual management. The research also calls attention to the elements of privilege present in such discourses, highlighting the need for further research into students’ menstrual needs and potential institutional interventions, with a particular focus on the intersecting difficulties faced by marginalised students.

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Section: Menstrual Activism and Institutional Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%