An exploratory study to understand the role of menstrual dignity in allocating gendered spaces to women
Student name: Ms Uttara S
Guide: Dr Prashant Kumar Singh
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR)
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Sutapa Majumdar
Abstract: This thesis attempts to understand the role dignity (dignity here is thus an inherent claim on freedom of power over spaces (Cornell, 2002)) associated with menstruation has resulted in creating psychological and geographical spaces (Gendered Spaces) for girls and women. The second section will then look at any intergenerational differences between the subjects taken from two generations. The ethnographic study consisted of 20 in-depth interviews, two focus groups discussions and six key informant interviews in a recent (2 years) old Menstrual Hygiene Intervention area of Centre For Advocacy and Research Janta Jeevan Camp. Menarche is associated with physical maturity and the ability to reproduce amongst adolescents. However, an eerie silence revolves around the discussion menarche and menstruation in the community. Little or no information was given to women from all age groups about the same. On the contrary, the imposed sparse information (taboos) had made the women voluntarily believe that they were dirty, impure and it menstruation is not a disgraceful and un-dignified act. The narratives that emanated through all the tools of research were analysed through the various emic domains of dignity that render women in a state of powerlessness as there exists no agency freedom because of the creation of psychological spaces created for women in the community. A stern association and belief in the taboos is directly linked to the lack of information, education and communication about the subject. Hence, there is a clear requirement to instil information to young women on menstruation in ways that are long-term, continuous, that begin well before menarche and continue long after it.
Keywords: menstruation, menstrual dignity, imposed notions, voluntary notions, gendered spaces, agency freedom, information, education and education
