This online discussion will explore new areas of menstrual health research, demonstrating how scholarship can inform and support bold policy moves to overcome menstrual inequality. As part of this event, attendees will gain new insights into the topic of menstruation drawn from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, law, economics and politics. Our interdisciplinary approach will encourage attendees to reflect on both global and local aspects of the topic, learning for example how cutting-edge research into menstrual bleeding disorders can help overcome stigmas and taboos, leading to new and inclusive policy-making around the world affecting the lives of women, girls and people who menstruate.
The event will feature:
- Monica Lennon MSP, who will discuss the ‘period poverty’ bill she successfully steered through the Scottish Parliament;
- Professor Hilary Critchley, Professor of Reproductive Medicine / Deputy Director of the Centre for Reproductive Health in CMVM, who will examine under-recognised and under-reported aspects of menstrual bleeding disorders;
- Dr Laura Rossouw, Senior Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, who will speak about the importance and economics of menstrual hygiene management and related period poverty in South Africa.
- Miriam Vishniac, doctoral researcher in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, who will discuss experiences of incarcerated women in the USA including difficulties in accessing menstrual health products.
This event is presented by IASH and genderED, the university's gender and sexualities studies hub. It is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Free tickets can be reserved at https://the-price-of-periods.eventbrite.com. A Zoom link will then be circulated by email on the day of the event.
Image credit: Menstrual blood, artwork title "The Ribbon Rose". Beauty in Blood: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/dhxtqjzt. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).