Tag: Climate Change Disinformation

Abstract

This chapter explores young people’s awareness and perceptions of period poverty, menstrual health conditions, sustainability, and the experiences of transgender people who menstruate. It also considers the extent to which their awareness of these four themes has led to a change in their attitudes and offline behaviours. This chapter argues that, thanks to social media in particular, young people in Great Britain are becoming increasingly aware of issues around menstrual equity. Nevertheless, they have limited knowledge about menstrual health such as being able to identify if symptoms are typical or atypical. Ultimately, as my findings demonstrate, the changes that will have the greatest impact on young people are improved access to high quality menstrual education (which includes tactile engagement with menstrual products and discussions of lived experiences), opportunities to develop their media literacy skills, and the fostering of an inclusive and open culture around menstruation in educational settings. The menstrual movement must therefore continue to work with the government to improve menstrual education in schools and, where possible, support teachers and pupils.

Abstract

This chapter, which focuses on the mediation of menstruation in the news and on social media, provides a thematic analysis of interviews conducted with 32 menstrual advocates from across Great Britain. It examines their views on the media’s role in shaping social norms, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of menstruation. In so doing, the chapter fills a significant gap within critical menstruation studies which is yet to deeply evaluate the relationship between menstrual activists and the media. As the findings in the chapter indicate, there are three aspects of mediation that activists believe to most harm menstruating women and people: the circulation of menstrual stigma, the dissemination of misinformation, and the perpetuation of social inequalities. Although participants’ criticisms are primarily aimed at traditional news media, they articulate that social media, despite offering a valuable space in which activists can self-mediate, are also responsible for perpetuating menstrual stigma and misinformation. By revealing activists’ criticisms of traditional and social media, the chapter exemplifies why the menstrual movement is critical of, and aims to change, media narratives.