(Re)making menstrual hygiene discourses in India

Abstract

The exploration of menstrual hygiene management through the lens of feminist Science and Technology Studies (STS) reveals complex intersections between culture, science, and politics. The Hindi film Pad Man (2018) substantially raised awareness about period poverty in India, but it also highlights ongoing challenges in tackling menstrual stigma and spreading awareness of hygiene practices. A critical analysis of menstrual hygiene discourse before and after the film’s release reveals a shift toward recognizing menstruation as an integral part of menstruators’ lived experiences and identities, rather than merely focusing on the products used. However, religious and colonial footprints have further complicated these narratives by embedding patriarchal and casteist ideologies into scientific discourse. The preservation of gendered and cis-heteronormative frameworks within the scientific realm reinforced barriers for Indian menstruators. Using a feminist STS approach, this paper combines prevalent religious beliefs about menstruation in India with a bibliometric study of PubMed articles on menstruation, alongside an analysis of intersecting oppressions. It examines how the production of knowledge has constructed menstruation as an “impurity,” revealing that menstrual hygiene is not merely an individual issue but a structural one.