Toward Feminist Ways of Sensing the Menstruating Body

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Problems or Challenges:

  • Traditional menstrual tracking technologies often focus on quantitative data (e.g., body temperature, heart rate, bioelectrical conductivity) while neglecting sensory experiences and materiality of the body.
  • Menstrual-related bodily fluids (e.g., vaginal discharge) are frequently perceived as "messy" or "unclean," and their value is often overlooked in design and evaluation processes.
  • Existing designs typically rely on smartphone-mediated interactions, offering limited engagement with users' physical bodies and neglecting tactile, visual, and other sensory dimensions.

• Why It Matters:

  • Analyzing menstrual-related bodily fluids can provide richer, more nuanced data, enhancing understanding of the biological and sensory aspects of menstruation and helping to counteract menstrual stigma.
  • Encouraging more immersive, human-centered design approaches can empower users to engage with and understand their bodies more directly, rather than solely relying on technological mediation.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • The authors respond to feminist calls within the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) field to center tactility, sensory experiences, and materiality in design.
  • This study builds on prior research, such as integrating "feminist material theories" and "posthuman theories" into health technology design. Specific studies include critical interpretations of reproductive health and menstrual stigma, as well as dissatisfaction with the over-quantification in menstrual tracking technologies.

Proposed Solution

• Proposed Approach:

  • Designed and tested a fingertip-wearable sensor to measure the conductivity of vaginal discharge, combining quantitative measurement with tactile interaction to provide users with a more direct bodily awareness.

• Innovations:

  • Introduced the concept of "tactile sensing," enabling deeper sensory engagement through contact with the body.
  • Adopted feminist DIY and participatory design methods, allowing users to reconfigure the sensor's form to suit their individual bodily needs.
  • Reframed issues of stigma and bodily materiality through the feminist concept of "leakiness," which emphasizes the porous and fluid boundaries of the body.

• Implementation Steps and Technologies:

  • Hardware Design:
    • The sensor was created using liquid metal alloys or conductive threads combined with flexible silicone, allowing users to wear it on their fingers to sense bodily fluids.
  • Methodology:
    1. Two Rounds of Data Practice Workshops: Explored potential use scenarios and data practices for the sensor.
    2. Four Sensor-Making Workshops: Participants created and designed their own versions of the sensor.
    3. Home Use Scenario Testing: Distributed sensor prototypes to observe how users interacted with them in their own environments.
  • Ethical Design: Ensured privacy, data security, emotional support, and cultural sensitivity throughout the study.

Research Outcomes

• Key Findings:

  • Through repeated tactile interactions, users developed a deeper understanding of subtle changes in vaginal discharge, prompting them to reevaluate their attitudes toward their own bodies.
  • Conceptualized two modes of data practice: "sticky" data practices, which emphasize data accumulation and routine tracking, and "slippery" data practices, which focus on immediate, ephemeral bodily insights.

• Advantages Over Existing Solutions:

  • Unlike current approaches that rely entirely on technology-mediated interactions (e.g., viewing tracking data on a smartphone), this sensor encourages direct bodily engagement, emphasizing the body's leakiness and positioning the body itself as a site of knowledge production.
  • The design approach prioritizes user autonomy, adaptability, and diversity, offering high flexibility.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Participants proposed diverse sensor design improvements (e.g., using bracelet or ring forms to enhance comfort and privacy).
  • Users believed the technology could challenge societal menstrual stigma but identified challenges such as discomfort using the sensor in public, difficulties with cleaning, and potential cultural conflicts.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations:
    • Limited data capabilities (the current sensor only measures conductivity and cannot directly infer complex biological indicators).
    • User intervention design primarily involved individuals with high levels of acceptance and experience, lacking representation of diverse cultural backgrounds and varying bodily comfort levels.
  • Future Directions:
    • Explore "feminist sensing" methods involving other senses, such as smell and sound.
    • Extend the design's "bodily adaptability" to encompass more racial, cultural, and gender identities, enhancing technological inclusivity.
    • Integrate sensor functionality into existing products (e.g., menstrual cups or pads) to further improve usability and widespread adoption.

Conclusion

This study not only proposes a novel approach to menstrual sensing but also highlights the critical role of bodily tactile interaction in technological innovation through a feminist design perspective. The research reveals the complex and dynamic interplay between bodily materiality and technology, offering rich insights for future design practices through its innovative participatory methods.