Menstruation Research Network

Description

The UK-based Menstruation Research Network (MRN) integrates expertise across various fields including science, humanities, activism, arts, and healthcare to consolidate understanding of diverse aspects of menstruation. The MRN, established in 2018, serves as a central point for research, collaborative projects, and conference organisation.

The network's foundation received support from a Wellcome Trust Small Network Grant (2018 - 2020) during which three conferences were convened across Scottish universities. Subsequent funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh facilitated a 3-year project (2020 - 2022) studying the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act (2021). Additional financial support from the Wellcome Trust in 2022 is enabling the organisation of three annual conferences from 2022 to 2024.

Administratively, MRN is located at the University of Aberdeen, while one of its projects is conducted through the University of St Andrews.

Since MRN's inception, the prominence of menstruation in various societal domains like politics, law, medicine, environmental and economic discourses has heightened. Scotland's passage of the Period Product (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, making menstrual products accessible to all residents, and government-commissioned reports on product costs, pollution, and shame exemplify this increased attention. MRN has contributed interdisciplinary menstruation expertise to these discussions, with continued focus needed as dialogues shift from product accessibility and poverty to the core causes of menstrual taboos, including shame, invisibility, exclusion, and fear. The network also advocates documenting menstruation's positive aspects such as activism, art, and joy.

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2018

Contact details

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Categorisation

Type

Project Tags

University affiliation(s)

University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen

University of St Andrews
St Andrews

Partner Universities

University of St Andrews