Menstrual Justice Reimagined: Contextualizing Solutions Through A New Lens for South Asia
摘要
Margaret E. Johnson’s concept of menstrual justice is relatively more applicable, mainly through her use of structural intersectionality, where she delves into advocating for menstrual justice. However, Johnson’s Western-centric approach and limitation of structural intersectionality need to fully comprehend the diverse and intricate issues prevalent in South Asia. To adequately address the specific challenges menstruators face in South Asia, we proposed a new lens entitled Intersectional Environmental Rights-Based Approach, which combines five humanitarian approaches that supplement Johnson’s category, suggesting in practice to ensure menstrual justice. This lens provides a more inclusive thought of menstrual justice in South Asia by focusing on intersectional discrimination, unequal opportunities for marginalized groups, disparities in reproductive health services, environmental damages from improper waste management, and the denial of fundamental human rights related to menstruation. Our study is suggestive and combines a secondary analysis of the scholarships on the menstrual code of practice to cover overlooked issues in South Asian contexts that may extend the applicability of Johnson’s category. It emphasizes the need to consider regional cultural traditions, socioeconomic conditions, and political environments to effectively address caste discrimination, period poverty, cultural stigmas, and environmental issues related to menstrual product disposal. The study advocates for the global promotion of menstrual justice, aiming to enhance social equity and overall well-being while addressing the gap between Western and South Asian contexts and engaging practitioners, scholars, and policymakers in South Asia.