10th- 16th August
I decided to speak to a few women about menstruation and culture. It was good to get their view about the intertwining of traditional values and science. I chose to do this through unstructured interviews as I wanted to create a comfortable environment for menstruators to talk without feeling shame.
Storytelling
These interviews were not recorded as the menstruators did not provide me consent to do so, but agreed to let me use the information in my writing.
Insights
During my interactions across rural villages, I realized that most menstruators who follow menstrual rituals are not concerned with modern science’s outlook. For most menstruators, it is a reverence to an age-old belief system that they want to be keepers of.
Most menstruators are living in fear that if they break through the stereotypes, they will be cursed.
I also started uncovering loads of stories within the community that were most probably co-incidental but yet considered relevant in tradition.
Artifact analysis
To get a deeper understanding of the stories surrounding the impurity of menstruation, I decided to use the research method of artifact analysis.
The tulsi
The tulsi plant is considered to be one of the most sacred plants in the Hindu culture. It is considered to be an avatar of the Goddess Laxmi and thus highly symbolized by purity.
I notice the dichotomy of sacred vs unholy here as well.
Other artifacts
I did not gain a lot of stories from the artifact analysis as I had first hoped.
Although, I did stumble upon an interesting idea of making controversial artifacts that challenge the idea of purity.
I came across another theory: Metaformic theory. Meta forms are rituals, myths, or stories created to contain emerging knowledge relating to menstruation. Reading about African culture and drawing parallels into hindu culture, it became imperative to explore mythology in a new light.
Bodystorming
Using bodystorming as a research method, I hoped to understand and uncover some elements of menstruation that I might be missing. Body storming is a method that requires the participants to assume a role in the environment one is designing for.
As I was designing for menstruators, I decided to follow all the superstitions which are observed in Loni. On the first day of my period, I decided to make an audio log of the day and record how I feel throughout. Some superstitions which I followed were- Not sleeping on the bed rather on the floor. Not entering the kitchen, not touching anyone in the house, and not eating from the same utensils.
Listen to the some of the audio logs here-
Insights
By using this method, I realised how difficult it was to manage your pain in these circumstances. It gave me a new perspective into how people see menstruators. One day of bodystorming was not even close to what menstruators go through 7 days every month.
This made me realise that when a person is bodystorming they can physically understand the situation and it makes them comfortable enough to talk about things. This was my first idea of using bodystorming as a design outcome.
Feedback (updated)
Looking back at this blog post, I feel that I should have explored more with the materials used in the artifact analysis and researched how materials affect cultures.
Takeaways
While executing some of these research methods, it was difficult to bridge the gap between a designer and the people I was designing for. Bodystorming as a design outcome was something I really wanted to explore more. The process of inventing new research methods and how one could use them as a design outcome was really interesting to think of.
References
Grahn, J., 2005. The emergence of metaformic consciousness. Metaformia: A journal of menstruation and culture.
Teish, L. ,2000. Shedding Old Skin: A Search For New Origin Stories. Metaformia: A journal of menstruation and culture.
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