Menstruation has gained increasing visibility in public discourse, yet significant gaps
remain in understanding the role of period products beyond functionality. While much
of the literature focuses on period poverty—primarily framed as a lack of financial
resources—feminist scholars and activists have expanded this definition to include
broader accessibility, stigma, and class-based barriers (Bobel, 2018; Crawford et al.,
2021). However, less attention has been given to the role of menstrual products
themselves in shaping gendered, classed, and environmental responsibilities. This
study addresses this gap by examining how period products are embedded in larger
socio-political and cultural norms, influencing menstruation as an embodied
experience.
Drawing on qualitative research with 27 participants across Scotland, this study
employs an inductive approach to thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021),
enriched by feminist methodologies (Riessman, 2008; Olesen, 2011). Findings
reveal that period products function as critical sites where societal norms are both
reinforced and resisted. As menstrual studies evolve—particularly through feminist
activism on menstrual education, period poverty, and sustainability—these
discussions shape how individuals experience and perceive menstruation. Period
products emerge not only as material goods but as mechanisms through which
social norms around respectability, sexualisation, and appropriateness are enacted.
Furthermore, these products serve as markers of class and environmental
responsibility, reflecting broader systemic inequalities.
This research contributes to feminist scholarship by illuminating the ways in which
gender, class, and environmental responsibilities are intertwined with menstrual
experiences. It challenges the supposed neutrality of menstrual products, arguing
that they are deeply embedded in social structures that regulate bodies and
identities. By situating period products within broader discussions of girlhood, policy,
and environmentalism, this study offers a critical insight for future research and for
addressing menstrual inequality and promoting sustainable, inclusive practices.
| Date of Award | 7 Oct 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | - University Of Strathclyde
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| Supervisor | Yvette Taylor (Supervisor) & Maddie Breeze (Supervisor) |
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