Policy and Practice Pathways to Addressing Menstrual Stigma and Discrimination

Abstract

Patkar traces the efforts in various countries to break the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation and to develop national policies on menstrual hygiene. She argues that changes in social norms, institutions, and behaviors linked to taboo topics are best facilitated by simple, evidence-based policies anchored in voice and participation. She asserts that men are willing and essential agents of change for gender equality when presented with pragmatic problems and implementable solutions. Basic noncontroversial and essential services and infrastructure, such as taps and toilets, serve as powerful entry points to articulating, exploring, and addressing wider gender and exclusion issues. Drawing on her experiences working with governments in Africa and Asia and reflecting on her journey over the past decades, Patkar outlines a methodology and pathway to transform the silence around menstruation into policy and action.