Critical Research on Menstruation
Menstruation is no longer viewed as a physiological matter alone but as a vital aspect of womens’ health and socio-economic advancement, yet research on the subject is largely focused on hygiene rather than on life cycle perspectives or issues of gender equity.
Building on the initiative to strengthen research on menstrual health through its Period of Life project, Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai conducted an online workshop entitled ‘Resources for Menstrual Health: Proposal Writing, Research Design and Funding Access’ on April 17, 2023. The event featured a panel of experts from academia and philanthropy who discussed globally observed practices and avenues to gather resources for research on menstruation. Participants included researchers from eminent institutions including the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, the International Institute for Population Sciences, the Public Health Foundation of India, and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
Setting the tone for the workshop, Dr. Inga Winkler, Associate Professor at International Human Rights Law, Central European University, Vienna, shared her understanding of the various constraints menstrual researchers face globally. While acknowledging hurdles for funding and publication opportunities caused by a belief that research around menstruation is unlikely to add valuable insights to pre-existing knowledge, Dr. Winkler said that such research has gained attention and momentum in recent years. “Researchers should aim to capitalize on this momentum and create long term sustainable research networks and targets which can answer bigger questions around menstruation and public health”, she remarked.
The second expert, Dr. Suneeta Krishnan, Deputy Director of Strategy, Planning, and M&E at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, elaborated on the key elements that researchers could incorporate into their proposals for improving their funding odds. Dr. Krishnan explained how evidence-based research tailored to meet current policy developments is more likely to get an encouraging response from relevant stakeholders and donors. A meaningful engagement with policy-makers validates the need for a comprehensive study on subjects like menstruation.
Adding to this perspective, the third panelist, Dr. M Sivakami, Professor at the Center for Health and Social Sciences, School of Health Systems at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, shared pointers that had helped her in the past, including aligning her research objectives with a donor’s thematic areas, coherently stating the institution’s or researcher’s capacity and partnership requirements, and highlighting compelling stories of involved stakeholders. She also explained the importance of effective budgeting in proposals and drawing reasonable targets for research as well as building a stable and strong team with like minded researchers.
Aimed towards guiding participants to unlock the potential for support for their research on menstruation, the session built confidence among researchers as they brainstormed with the panelists on possible solutions to some of the unique problems that they faced. One of the most persistent challenges included the lack of uniform datasets and the absence of a platform for academicians and researchers to come together and discuss solutions to a common problem. This workshop further confirmed the need for global networks within the field of menstrual research that can enable knowledge exchange and support researchers in accessing the right opportunities.