How to design for taboos? A design intervention to overcome the taboo of menstruation in India

Abstract

Taboos are like ''open public secrets'' and often dealing with these topics can be challenging due to the negative societal view. However, taboos can have a strong impact on the well-being of people, therefore, addressing these subjects is of high importance. In this paper seven building blocks to design for taboos are presented. These blocks were identified during our desk and field research project on the taboo of menstruation in India. Menstruation is a taboo that is prevalent worldwide, but in the low and middle income countries such as India, it has an even stronger negative impact on the lives of women. It is a subject that women deal with in secrecy and shame, often without involving men into the subject. However, India is a patriarchal country where men have a direct impact on the lives of women and the way women conduct their periods. Though efforts do exist to deal with the issue of menstruation, none so far have a focus on the stigma and shame that prevent from dealing with the subject openly. This paper presents the approach of gamification and humor in order to create a positive atmosphere for a discussion on the topic of menstruation inside the family house with all family members as a first step towards dealing with the subject.

Full text

Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion




a
a
a 

Abstract





           
      


     






Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion


Discussion about taboos bring strong discomfort


taboo topics are related to global issues such as

therefore addressing these issues is of paramount








presents building blocks to design for taboos


























to stronger ones, such as avoiding physical contact

















Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion







its structure, history, values and interpersonal



has been created in the society for centuries





that have an impact on the current image of









have been distorted through the years by

meaning behind them, and today they hold strong





vary through families and regions, and can vary






risks due to various aspects like unsafe usage






Cultural taboos can restrict youngsters from














lesser developed Asian countries such as





and to accept that they are not supposed to get




Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion



in a nuclear family, the importance of kinships


uncomfortable to assert their needs and therefore
















In the recent years, the Indian government has















have open and free of shame discussions around

involve men and boys for the changes to appear









include all family members into the discussion,


























Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion










directly include male members of the family












































and puberty, and portrayed the changes that
















Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion

















In order to have a deeper understanding of the






















Tailoring these aspects carefully can ensure



the design should be customized to the culture













When designing for taboos, it is important for the
design to undergo a series of tests to check the























Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion



but not going through the cons of having the









playing more entertaining, and even surprising



















removed discomfort of involvement in such a

most male members as it presented the topic of





It is necessary to tackle these issues since not












through centuries and is hard to change but the

Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion


order to bring the topic out of the darkness of






humorous aspects of the design, the usually the



The presented building blocks can serve as a



further addressing to be made on the societal


intricate aspects of the culture such as gender and



Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion



ournal of Family Issues


Swachh Bharat Mission Hasn’t ‘Met’ Sustainable Menstruaon


The Journal of Design,
Economics, and Innovaon

BMJ Open 2016

Ideo: How to Turn Social Taboos Into Innovave Products,


 Menstrual Health in India | Country Landscape Analysis

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The Internet
Journal of World Health and Societal Polics.
Indian Society and Ways of Living


Indian Journal of Community Health
Tips for Exploring Taboo Topics Through Play

Naonal Family
Health Survey (NFHS-3)


Track: Design for DiVersiTY anD incLUsionsenses & sensibiLiTY '19: LosT in (g)LocaLizaTion
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Menstrual health, while excluded from SDGs, gains spotlight at UN polical
forum


Waterlines

 The Tribune



The Naonal medical journal of India

Internaonal Journal of Collaborave Research on Internal
Medicine & Public Health
Sidestepping the Elephant in the
Classroom: Using Culturally Localized Technology To Teach Around Taboos
Views of Menstruaon in Religions and Cultures around the world,

The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer
Interacon

Humour is necessary to overcome sgma

Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity
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