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About Us
“We are a team of Harvard School of Public Health researchers and Museum of Science,Boston educators working together to curate, create, and convey information relevant to the underrepresented themes of sexual and reproductive health”
Our Team
Dr.Shruthi Mahalingaiah
Principal Investigator @ The Harvard School of Public Health
Dr. Susan Heilman
Program Manager- Community Initiatives @ Museum of Science
Tatheer Adnan
Project Lead
Anthony DeNitto
Animation Director
Leena Gupta
Research Assistant
The Mission
“Nearly half (44%) of menstruators have not learned about menstruation
when they have their first period” [1]
“This can lead to feelings of fear, discomfort, and shame amongst menstruators” [2]
“Multiple studies find that menstruators who have limited knowledge
of the menstrual cycle have negative attitudes towards menstruation” [2]
“And yet parents are reluctant to talk to their children about periods and puberty. Why?” [3]
“I’ll just wait until their older”
“They’ve never asked”
“Kids don’t want to talk to parents about this!”
“They can learn at school”
“I don’t know what to say”
The Mission
“Nearly half (44%) of menstruators have not learned about menstruation when they have their first period.”
“This can lead to feelings of fear, discomfort, and shame amongst menstruators”
“Multiple studies find that menstruators who have limited knowledge of the menstrual cycle have negative attitudes towards menstruation”
“And yet parents are reluctant to talk to their children about periods and puberty. Why?”
“I’ll just wait until their older”
“They haven’t asked about it.”
Kids don’t want to talk to parents about this
Is talking about sex appropriate?”
“I don’t know what to say”
The Animation
An educational animation designed to give parents and children the opportunity
to learn about
menstrual anatomy and physiology.
The animation was hosted in the Museum of Science, Boston at the Living Laboratory®. 150 people watched the animation, and 50 families participated in a survey about their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about menstruation
DEMYSTIFY
Teaching children the real name for bodily parts and processes without masking them in metaphor
DEGENDER
Menstruation is not relevant to women’s health, it is relevant to the health of every menstruator
DESEXUALIZE
Focus on the anatomy and physiology of menstruation without embedding it within the larger context of reproduction.
Have thoughts you’d like to share or ideas for content you’d like to see? Contact Us Now
Learn More Here
[1] The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies
[2] Mapping the knowledge and understanding of menarche, menstrual hygiene, and menstrual health among adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries
[3] Barriers to Puberty Talk between Mothers and Daughters: A Qualitative Study
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