Primary Research

Scope of primary research

The primary research component of this Capstone will have two perspectives. One will be focused locally while the other globally.

On the local scale, I will conduct a survey throughout Andover High School and potentially the greater Andover community to assess the knowledge, comfort, and language used when referring to menstruation. Do girls locally refer to menstruation as periods? Or something else, like a code name such as Mother Nature. Are girls locally comfortable talking about menstruation out in public? Or do they shy away, avoiding being heard. How were girls treated upon menarche? Were they teased or applauded? While the US is a long-time developed and industrialized country, there may still be a stigma regarding menstruation in even the most urban and westernized areas on the world. I will reach out to Andover High School's health teachers for help in administrating this survey.

Globally, my primary research will need to answer questions such as finding the effectiveness of organizations such as Myna Mahila. I will rely on interviews primarily for this aspect of research. Interviewees will include Suhani Jalota, the founder of the Myna Mahila Foundation, and Maggie Schmitt, a research director at Colombia University. As there is a lack of research in areas such as long term effects of the menstrual stigma to little funding, it will be interesting to see what experts will have to say. These interviews will primarily focus of the impacts of menstrual hygiene intervention methods in India and other developing countries.

Questions: What programs work? Is there long term benefits of curriculum implemented in schools or empowerment classes for women? How does the stigma affect girls when they do not return to school?

Drafting Questions

Questions for Suhani Jalota

What inspired you to create Myna?
Why did you decide to focus on the empowerment of women and breaking the stigma of menstruation?
Can you talk about the Myna’s influence on the women of the urban slums? Have you seen any changes either positive or negative? How have you been able to measure this?
What kinds of challenges have you have faced with Myna? From whom? Why?
Any solutions to these problems that you can highlight?
Has there been any pushback from the overall community? Can you describe the type of pushback? From whom? Why?
Do you have any plans to expand Myna? Perhaps into more rural areas?
Where have you seen growth in the Myna community?
How have the women been directly impacted? Any stories that can you share?
So far the story of Myna has largely circulated in the US and UK, especially with the sponsorship from the Royal Wedding last May. Does the government have any future plans to adopt this into a nationwide program. Explain why or why not?
What impact has Myna had on younger girls in the community and their education. Do you see Myna as having the potential to have that kind of impact? Why or why not?
What role/impact does the Sponsor a Girl program at Myna have on the development of young women?

Questions for Maggie Schmitt and Julie Hennegan

What inspired you to go down the route of global health and how did you get involved in research of menstruation and menstrual health management as it can be considered an underfunded research topic?
How is school absenteeism and equality in education is affected by appropriate infrastructure development, for example, adequate toilets for females, and education of MHM?
In your study about pilot testing and evaluating a toolkit for menstrual hygiene management in emergencies in refugee camps, how were these toolkits accepted by the community? Did they have long term effects on those who participated?
What are the reactions you have received to the implementation of MHM interventions in communities?
Do you think there needs to be more awareness in the USA about the menstrual stigma and MHM?
I read that you are apart of the Growing Girls Program USA. What have you found in terms of the experience that girls in urban areas have with menstruation?
Do you have any knowledge, experience, or research in India / Indian culture?
Have you found that certain cultures hold a preference for certain types of sanitary products? For example, in the US, there is an emphasis on using tampons. Do you think that other cultures have inhibitions against certain products?

Questions for Desai Foundation

What inspired your family to create The Desai Foundation?
Why did the organization decide to take a focus on the empowerment of women and breaking the stigma of menstruation through programs such as the Asani Sanitary Napkin Program.
Can you touch on the Sanitary Napkin Program.
Can you talk about The Desai Foundation's influence on the women of the communities it serves? Have you seen any changes either positive or negative? How have you been able to measure this?
What kinds of challenges have you have faced? From whom? Why? And any solutions to these problems that you can highlight?
Has there been any pushback from the overall community? Can you describe the type of pushback? From whom? Why?
How have the women been directly impacted? Any stories that can you share?
What impact has the foundation had on younger girls in the community and their education?
Do you think that India is ready for this stigma to be tackled on a national level?

** ask about sewing program

Email to "Period. End of Sentence." director Rayka Zehtabchi

Hello!

My name is Karishma Mistry. I am a senior in high school in Andover Massachusetts. I am currently undertaking a year-long Capstone research project focusing on the stigma surrounding menstruation in India and how this stigma affects young girls education, sense of identity, and overall future success. The documentary "Period. End of Sentence." was beyond inspiring and influential.

I was wondering if you would be interested in being interviewed for my Capstone. From your experience in India during the filming of the documentary and speaking to Mr. Muruganantham, you clearly have an expertise on this topic. If this is something you are at all interested in, please let me know! I would love to work with you!

Thank you,

Karishma Mistry

Andover High School, MA

karishmamistry4@gmail.com

Survey Drafting

HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU WITH TALKING ABOUT MENSTRUATION?

with your mother or sisters?

with your female friends?

with your father?

with your brother? (if applicable)

with your male friends?

WHAT DO YOU REFER TO MENSTRUATION AS? ARE THERE ANY "CODE" NAME OR NICKNAMES YOU USE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS? IF SO, WHAT ARE THEY?

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED METHOD OF HYGIENE?

pads

tampons

menstrual cups (diva cup)

other

HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW ABOUT MENSTRUATION? FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS, SCHOOLS?

IF YOU REMEMBER, HOW DID THE "TALK" IN FIFTH GRADE HELP YOU/EDUCATE YOU REGARDING MENSTRUATION? RESOURCES? SANITARY PRODUCTS? BIOLOGY/PURPOSE?

DOES YOUR PERIOD EVER INHIBIT YOU FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL OR OTHER ACTIVITIES? IF SO, EXPLAIN?

Notes:be inclusive of LGBTQ+ populationmale and female sections

Report abuse