The Association between Life Course Stage and Menstrual Restrictions among Women in Nepal

• In Event: Asia and Asian American Section Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Asia and Asian American Section Roundtables Session - Health, Organizations

Abstract

Menstruation is a biological process; however, menstrual ritual is a complex and pervasive sociocultural phenomenon, manifesting in diverse forms across the globe. Restrictions in various kinds of everyday activities are common menstrual rituals in Nepal; around 85% of Nepali women adhere to at least one form of menstrual restriction. However, the nature of these practices exhibits significant heterogeneity in Nepal, with very strict menstrual rituals in some regions.
While literature suggests that restrictions are often strictest at menarche and for unmarried girls, the relationship between age and menstrual restrictions is complex: while increased domestic responsibility may grant older women more leverage to bypass restrictions, emerging research indicates that younger generations follow fewer restrictions. However, the existing literature is conducted in a specific place with a small sample, which limits generalizability, especially given that menstrual norms and values vary substantially across geographical regions. Consequently, this study investigates one potential driver of menstrual restrictions by examining differences across three distinct age cohorts, representing key life-course stages, utilizing the Nepal Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) dataset, 2022. The findings indicate that life course stage is a significant predictor of menstrual restrictions, with the oldest cohort, who are approaching the end of reproductive age, exhibiting the highest expected restrictions. Though focusing on a specific context (i.e., Nepal) and a set of culturally embedded practices (i.e., menstrual restrictions), the study findings have implications for sociological research on gender inequality, life course theory, and health.

Authors

• Binda Khatri, The University of Texas at Austin

• Christy L Erving, University of Texas-Austin