Rethinking Menstrual Trackers Towards Period-Positive Ecologies

Document Title

Rethinking Menstrual Trackers Towards Period-Positive Ecologies

Document Information

• Subject Area: Human-Computer Interaction and Gender Health
• Keywords: Menstrual tracking, menstrual dignity, digital menstrual tracking tools, menstrual journey, capability approach, liberation, period-positive ecologies

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Problems or Challenges:

  1. Existing digital menstrual tracking tools reinforce the societal construct of "controlling menstruation."
  2. Menstruation remains a taboo, particularly in certain cultural contexts, leading to negative menstrual experiences, insecurity, and diminished self-esteem.
  3. Due to design limitations, current digital menstrual tracking tools fail to adequately support the diverse needs of users, including a lack of focus on transgender individuals and sexual and reproductive health information.

• Significance:

  1. Menstrual health impacts gender equity, encompassing hygiene, human rights, and equality.
  2. Current tools fail to effectively support users' recognition of their own bodies and pose issues related to privacy and data protection.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  1. Focus on menstrual health issues from a Global South perspective.
  2. Expand the function of menstrual tracking tools from "controlling the body" to "liberating the body."
  3. Explore how technology can promote social justice based on Nussbaum's capability approach.

Solution

• Proposed Methods or Solutions:

  1. Redefine digital menstrual tracking tools as "capability-building tools" that support menstruators and their communities in fostering positive menstrual relationships.
  2. Advocate for a design focus on supporting users' exploration of self and social relationships rather than aiming to control menstruation.
  3. Incorporate a long-term perspective in the design process to support users through the multi-stage, transitional menstrual journey from menarche to menopause.

• Innovations:

  1. Introduce the concept of "design for the self," enabling users to customize tracking tools based on their individual needs.
  2. Adopt an ecological approach, integrating menstrual tracking tools with social relationships to support intergenerational menstrual health education.
  3. Emphasize privacy for sensitive data and co-creative development to avoid stigmatization or risks of data misuse in existing designs.

• Implementation Steps and Key Technologies:

  1. Employ a combination of research methods, including surveys, cultural probes, remote interviews, and application evaluations.
  2. Use Martha Nussbaum's "capability approach" framework to analyze the needs and contexts of menstruators.
  3. Propose a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) toolkit development approach, combining handcrafted design with digital data management.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Findings:

  1. Conducted an in-depth analysis of menstrual tracking practices and their evolution across different menstrual stages for individuals aged 12-65.
  2. Identified the roles of key social relationships (e.g., mothers, partners, healthcare providers) in menstrual management and explored their involvement in menstrual tracking.
  3. Proposed principles for redesigning menstrual tracking tools, emphasizing functionality that supports user autonomy and privacy.

• Advantages:

  1. Addressed issues of gender-based menstrual stigma and privacy concerns.
  2. Enriched and expanded gender health research within the field of human-computer interaction, inspiring the design of culturally sensitive technologies.
  3. Provided insights for intergenerational education, positioning digital tools as bridges for sharing menstrual health knowledge.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Most adult and adolescent users recognized the potential of digital tools but expressed concerns about privacy issues and information overload in existing tools.
  • Many interviewees desired future tools to be more tailored to meet the needs of different life stages.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations:
    • The study primarily focused on the urban context of New Delhi, India, which may limit its global applicability.
    • Due to the pandemic, the cultural probe method could not be comprehensively applied across multiple groups.
  • Future Directions:
    • Further explore technological solutions for menstrual health in multicultural contexts.
    • Expand the user base to include sexual and gender minorities and analyze their needs for menstrual tracking.
    • Strengthen collaboration with policymakers and infrastructure stakeholders to advance health education.