Week 6 RF-Menstruation in Nepal Flashcards
What is menstruation media like in Nepal?
-Chhau goth – “women who bleed are sent to a cow / goat shed cause of death” dominates media and imagination (false indications, their death could be a result of things like sexual violence, smoke inhalation, snake bites etc.,).
-Avoid stereotypes – consider dignity – avoid ‘poverty porn’.
What is the % of women and girls who experience staying in separate and specific houses during menstruation? (MICS, 2014)
-15.1% in Far-Western Mountains
-15.5% in Far-Western Hills
-9.9% in Far-Western Terai
- 3.1% in Mid-Western Terai
-4.8% in Mid-Western Hills
-71.2% in Mid-Western Mountains
-Shows it is particularly prevalent in the west
What is the importance of understanding menstruation in different areas of Nepal?
“Chhaupadi exists in multiple forms. Chhaupadi in the west is an extreme example and has media focus - but there is chhaupadi in many forms. For example in Kathmandu amongst the middle class, girls are secluded for 11 days when they first have [menarche], they cannot see men, they cannot shower, and they cannot see the sun” -Teacher
-Need to not just focus on ‘Western’ Nepal but explore menstruation in all places
contextual – no 1 religion – no 1 set of beliefs. Complex and intersectional – no 1 narrative.
What happened following the earthquake in Nepal in 2015?
-After the earthquakes in Nepal in
2015 there was a rise in gender-based
violence.
-Post-earthquake 2015 – rise in local
women’s organisations distributing menstrual hygiene dignity kits and re-
usable menstrual products (Standing,
K, Parker, S and Bista, S (2016).
-Led to British Academy Small Grant – PI Dr Kay Standing to explore impact of distribution of kits.
-Conducted surveys with school girls in Nepal who had received kits
-Also interviewed more than 27 NGOs and activists working in this area over an 18-month period.
What was found in the BA Small Grant 2016-2018 Assessing the impact of
distributing ‘Sanitary Pad’ kits in Nepal?
*Lack of knowledge of reproductive health
*Diverse range of stigmas and taboos being practices.
*Many women are unable to manage their periods with dignity (e.g., leaving washed pads to dry in the sun is disrespecting the sun gods so they hide it underneath mattresses in the dark=becomes mouldy).
*Wide range of kits being made and distributed both locally and donated.
*There is a strong network of NGOs and activists working in Nepal to tackle these challenges.
*Education and working with the local community is key to enable change – BA Blog Standing & Parker
What is “Dignity without Danger BA”?
-Dignity Without Danger BA funded
research project - collaboration with
Liverpool John Moores University,
SOAS and Tribhuvan University (2018-
2021)
-Working in first two years with six
local NGO partners led by Global
Action Nepal.
-Collaborating with Menstrual Health
and Hygiene Partnership Alliance and
more recently supported by GiZ-Nepal.
What is the Menstrual Health & Hygiene Management Practitioner Alliance
(MHMPA)?
-Formed in 2017 - bring together those
working in different sectors – Sanitation &
Wash, Health and Education
-Connection between practitioners and policy makers share good practice
-Organise MHM Day 28th May each year
- MenstruAction summit Dec 2018 supported by GiZ
- Policy recommendations
- 5 working groups
- Wide range recommendations
How was rapid collaborative action research achieved?
-DWD – 6 researchers - 7 provinces
-Over 200 interviews and 20 focus groups
-Rapid ethnography, immersive
and use of diaries and field notes
-Second visit to some field sites for
further exploration
Solukhumbu, Kaski and Kanchanpur
Mountain, Hills and Terai
What is the Diverse range of beliefs, stigma and taboos?
-Diverse experiences and interventions
Women themselves uphold their traditions and practices – some pride – religion is very deeply embedded.
Complex and various practices
– not as rigid as assumed, fluidity and evidence of negotiation and change
-Correct knowledge is essential for entire
community on menstruation including all genders e.g., people don’t know where the blood comes from and why period pains differ in individuals.
-Also need community engagement and
awareness i.e., kids currently know more than their parents
-Need creative collaborative outputs to address deeply embedded beliefs
How was there creative engagements for menstruation with artists?
-Kaalo.101 – radical art collective Kathmandu
-Workshops with partners and researchers
Zine making and social media skills, generating menstrual vocabulary, emotions and movement, expressive typography and
sew and tear away taboos
How is there Kaalo.101 community engagement for menstruation?
-Covid-19 impacted on workshop plans – online art call-out 2020
-Submission from children to people in 60’s
58 individuals and organisation’s submitted
“without a doubt the involvement of people outside of the Kathmandu Valley, such diverse ages groups and backgrounds, this exhibition became the most inclusive and diverse show we have ever facilitated”
-Wider reach over 32,000 clicks reached
-Final event planned for December to celebrate menstrual experiences and rituals and engage wider public via creation 7 murals with augmented reality to continue to ‘Break the Silence
What are the Stories of Nepal? Jay Poudyal
-13 stories gathered – male and female
-Captures humanity of stories plus visual element adds extra layer of depth
-Shared on social media platforms
18 posts reached between 17120 and 83160
Over 600,00 reached (due to Jay Poudyal who is famous in Nepal)
-Accessed by those outside of our networks
Covid & limited budget presented challenge
ideally wanted to also do in other areas
“I have no authority to declare the blood coming from a women impure when I know that I am made from women’s blood”
“We used to stay away for 10 days but we
collectively agreed that we needed to break this mentality………… We were doing it at our own pace, following our own communal realizations. We are doing it in a way that does not anger the Devis and the Deutas (Gods). We are doing it in a way that we do not completely abandon our traditions and insult our ancestors”
What were the activist interviews?
-31 Menstrual activists
interviewed and being edited now to
share on social media online and hard
copy including exercises for children and comparing different types of products
-English and Nepali
-Plan to record and video to make as inclusive as possible
-Budget challenges
Extra GCRF funds LJMU
Needs funding from start
How is Collaborative film making for menstruation being achieved?
-Two films & 5 songs
one drama and a documentary available on DWD youtube
-Premier at KIMFF on Dec 2021
-High local impact and will continue to
monitor and evaluate
What are some challenges that still remain?
-Main message of drama is touching
someone who is menstruating does not
make you ill – ‘Grandma’ is main character
Grandma also said:
“I will not change my practices till my
death ……. I can’t stop all of a sudden.
Women should not be discriminated
against like keeping away from house and
not giving them enough food …. But not going to the temple, sprinkling cow urine and touching god I will never change that”
