We’re proud to present… The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies

It has been said so often it is now cliché—“menstruation is having its moment!” But what is this moment actually about?  What are we talking about when we talk about menstruation? The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies invites the reader to explore menstruation from nearly every possible angle, including dimensions that you might not … Continue reading We’re proud to present… The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies

Getting Off Red Handed: The Taboo-busting Power of Menstrual Masturbation

By Rowena Kosher Rowena Kosher (she/her) is a student at Columbia University studying Human Rights with a Concentration in Gender & Sexuality studies. Her research engages with queer theory, sociological approaches, gender, and activism. She is also the co-editor of Columbia’s Human Rights blog, RightsViews. You can find her on Instagram @rowena_kosher. “YOU are your … Continue reading Getting Off Red Handed: The Taboo-busting Power of Menstrual Masturbation

A Call for Body Positive Menstrual Activism

By Lucie Paradis Photo Credit: Rupi Kaur and Prabh Saini Lucie Paradis is a recent graduate from Columbia University's School of General Studies, having studied Human Rights with a focus on education. She will continue to pursue her interest in educational justice as a Peace Corps volunteer this fall, serving as an English language co-teacher in … Continue reading A Call for Body Positive Menstrual Activism

Menstruation at the Margins: Three Days of Reflection on Lake Geneva

By Purvaja S. Kavattur, Staff Associate at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights How much do we understand about the lived experiences of menstruating people who live in poverty, in detention, on the move, with a disability, or who experience homelessness? Do we address the needs and experiences of menstruators who identify as trans, … Continue reading Menstruation at the Margins: Three Days of Reflection on Lake Geneva

Do Menstrual Health and Hygiene Policies Matter? – A Human Rights Assessment

By Purvaja S. Kavattur, Staff Associate at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights In November 2019, Kenya adopted the world’s first stand-alone policy on menstrual hygiene. India has been integrating menstrual hygiene efforts in its sanitation policies for more than 10 years. And in the United States, we are counting down the States … Continue reading Do Menstrual Health and Hygiene Policies Matter? – A Human Rights Assessment

Period: End of Sentence Critical Panel: The Inconvenient, Bloody Truth Behind the Oscar-Winning Documentary

By: Laura Charney, RightsViews staff writer Repost from RightsViews. Original article can be found on the RightsViews blog. On September 26, the Menstruation and Gender Justice Working Group hosted a film screening and critical panel on the Oscar-winning documentary short Period: End of Sentence. Moderated by Inga Winkler, lecturer at the Institute for the Study of Human … Continue reading Period: End of Sentence Critical Panel: The Inconvenient, Bloody Truth Behind the Oscar-Winning Documentary

Menstruation, Gender and Rights: Interdisciplinary Approaches – Syllabus and Course Updates

The course will explore the contemporary discourse around menstruation in global and local contexts. The recent shift in public discourse around menstruation is crucial because efforts to support menstruators across the lifespan not only confer health benefits but also provide a key entry point for gender justice. Centering menstruation recognizes the body as foundational, urgent … Continue reading Menstruation, Gender and Rights: Interdisciplinary Approaches – Syllabus and Course Updates

Job Opportunity: Menstrual Health Staff Associate

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights is currently hiring a Staff Associate with primary responsibility for supporting the Menstrual Health Project. Countries around the world are developing legislative and policy frameworks on menstrual hygiene and health covering different aspects such as menstrual hygiene, de-taxing menstrual products, menstrual leave, or ensuring provision of menstrual … Continue reading Job Opportunity: Menstrual Health Staff Associate

Columbia University Provost’s Interdisciplinary Teaching Award: “Menstruation, Gender, and Rights: Interdisciplinary Approaches”

Faculty Fellows of the Menstrual Health and Gender Justice Working Group at the Center for the Study of Social Difference have received the Provost's Interdisciplinary Teaching Award to develop a course on “Menstruation, Gender, and Rights: Interdisciplinary Approaches.” The award funds up to $20,000 with the intention of "encourag[ing] and support[ing] faculty interested in creating new courses, or redesigning existing ones, that … Continue reading Columbia University Provost’s Interdisciplinary Teaching Award: “Menstruation, Gender, and Rights: Interdisciplinary Approaches”