Vulnerabilities and Capacities in Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and Menstrual Health: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is essential for those who menstruate because they have different needs during disasters and crises. Current MHM is focused on immediate needs instead of longer-term vulnerabilities and capacities. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how gendered vulnerabilities and capacities are considered in MHM policies and practice. The aim is to bring more focus to these vulnerabilities and capacities. This was done by conducting a document analysis with four chosen policies and five semi-structured interviews. A joint analysis was then done to contrast the policies and interviews. Lack of safety, privacy, and possibilities for upholding dignity emerged as a notable gendered vulnerability and community groups emerged as a notable gendered capacity in the contexts of development, disasters, and humanitarian crises. These are utilized in examining how vulnerabilities and capacities are considered in MHM currently. The main discussion in this thesis focuses on addressing root causes of vulnerabilities and the development of community groups further to fully utilize them as a capacity. In addition, the opportunities to make MHM policies and practice more inclusive of gender minorities are discussed. To improve current policies and practice, more focus needs to be put on vulnerabilities and capacities instead of immediate needs in the menstrual health field. More research needs to be conducted on the vulnerabilities and capacities as well as gender inclusion in relation to the menstrual health field.