Community Engaged Sociology: Addressing Menstrual Poverty During Humanitarian Emergencies

• In Event: 50255 - "Doing Public Sociology": Sociological Practice in the Community

Abstract

Women do not stop menstruating during disasters! Yet, in many humanitarian emergencies the needs of menstruators (women, girls, transgender men, and non-binary people) are overlooked - from access to menstrual products to appropriate sanitation facilities.
On February 6th, 2023, two major earthquakes (of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude) struck southeast Türkiye and parts of Syria. The earthquake had a devastating effect on 11 provinces, killing more than 55,000 people and 3 million people were forced to leave their homes. In its response to the disaster, the Turkish agencies responsible for providing aid failed to address the menstrual health and hygiene needs of women and girls.
This paper reports on an ongoing project to start an advocacy campaign in partnership with a Turkish NGO to persuade Turkish Disaster Response Agency (AFAD) and other response agencies to prioritize the needs of menstruators. We have relied on sociological research and our prior expertise on menstrual issues, our close contact with Turkish civil society organizations, knowledge of disaster management in Türkiye, and of Turkish politics to design this advocacy campaign.
Given that Türkiye is prone to earthquakes, our campaign plans to raise this as a public issue so response agencies prioritize the needs of menstruators when planning and implementing humanitarian aid. It also targets AFAD as its relief efforts in future emergencies will affect the lives of hundreds of women and girls in Türkiye and in 11 other countries where AFAD provides emergency relief.

Authors

• Rita Jalali, American University

• Bahar Aldanmaz Fidan, Boston University