China
Africa
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Women’s Health and Nutrition
Published in Mary J. Marian, Gerard E. Mullin, Integrating Nutrition Into Practice, 2017
Menstruation is a milestone in the life-span as it represents the female transition into womanhood, preparing the body for childbearing. Yet this milestone can present itself with multiple challenges that for some can disrupt daily routine, in particular, dysmenorrhea. More commonly referred to as menstrual cramps, this is reportedly the most common gynecological disorder in women, affecting up to 90% of reproductive-aged women [20]. It is reported that this is the most common reason for work as well as school absenteeism in adolescents. In fact, there are countries where a woman may take a “menstrual leave.” This concept originated in Japan almost a century ago and while few countries support this, it has continued to be addressed in some countries up to the present time [21].
Developing the menstrual justice agenda: insights from a mixed method study in the mid-western region of Nepal
Published in Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 2023
Fran Amery, Melanie Channon, Mahesh C. Puri, Jennifer Thomson
Finally, we add state power and the law as a dimension of menstrual (in)justice. The findings from Nepal indicate the need for attention to a swathe of issues surrounding the use of state power as a means of bringing about social change. In the Global North, much has been written about taxes on menstrual products – the “tampon tax” – and the various efforts to litigate and legislate against these.5,20,40 There has been equal discussion of attempts to legislate access to free menstrual products in various countries.41 In many countries, menstrual leave policies have been enacted, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Zambia (although there are issues around efficacy and uptake).42 In Nepal, however, efforts to combat menstrual taboos have harnessed the criminal law: a statute criminalising the practice of chhaupadi, a form of menstrual taboo imposing isolation during menstruation, came into effect in August 2018. The new law was welcomed at the time by many NGOs and campaigners. Yet our research raises questions about the appropriateness and effectiveness of criminal law as a means of enacting social change.
Taking leave to bleed: Perceptions and attitudes toward menstrual leave policy
Published in Health Care for Women International, 2019
Jessica L. Barnack-Tavlaris, Kristina Hansen, Rachel B. Levitt, Michelle Reno
Menstrual leave is a workplace policy that provides menstruators with time off if they are experiencing menstrual-related symptoms or illness, and are therefore unable to attend work. Proponents argue that menstrual leave may contribute to menstrual health, and overall reproductive health, by providing time to rest and recover from menstrual-related illnesses and/or symptoms, or time to seek out professional health care. Menstrual leave may also be a potential solution to addressing reproductive/menstrual health needs without having to use sick time or vacation time. Menstrual leave has been (or still is) offered in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Zambia. However, there is a deficit of public information on menstrual leave policies in these countries, and there is little research examining whether menstruators use the leave provided, sociocultural attitudes towards menstrual leave, and sociopolitical implications of the policy.
The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies
Published in Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 2020
In a chapter on policy and practice pathways to addressing menstrual stigma, Patkar discusses advances in India, Senegal, Kenya, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cameroon, Maldives, Nepal, Niger, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The author offers insightful and pragmatic policy recommendations that are applicable and appropriate in diverse countries, where menstrual and gender equity can be advanced using noncontroversial entry points such as water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. Patkar’s contribution is complemented by Hennegan’s systematic review which assesses the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Based on her findings, Hennegan makes concrete recommendations for implementing evidence-based menstrual equity interventions and for improving intervention research aimed at reducing and eliminating menstrual inequities. Levitt and Barnack-Tavlaris’ chapter focuses on the menstrual leave debate, policies which would provide employees with time off during menstruation. The authors explore the existence of national and organisational menstrual leave policies in Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Zambia, Australia, India, and Mexico. The authors discuss these policies within the broader context of menstrual stigma, gender inequities and pervasive heteropatriarchal culture, and critically engage with both their potential benefits and drawbacks. Their chapter pairs nicely with Weiss-Wolf’s work on policymaking in the United States which acknowledges challenging the tampon tax as an entry point into broader policy change. These four chapters, among others, offer insights into the appropriateness and effectiveness of public health interventions, policymaking, and human rights frames, where these strategies can be deployed alone or in combination with other approaches for advancing equity agendas in diverse settings.