Menstrual Health in Crises: Climate Change, Social Exclusion, and Resilience - Fien de Ridder

The article addresses how humanitarian crises—driven by conflict, climate change, and displacement—disrupt menstrual health, particularly in low-income, disaster-prone regions. Fieldwork conducted in Indonesia illustrates the challenges menstruating individuals face, including lack of access to clean water, proper sanitation, and quality menstrual products. Environmental and/or humanitarian crises exacerbate these issues, with extreme weather events destroying vital infrastructure and displacing communities in refugee camps. This instability often forces menstruators to manage their health in unsanitary, unsafe conditions, leading to both physical discomfort and mental stress.The article highlights the emotional and social exclusion menstruators experience due to stigma, particularly in conservative societies and refugee settings. The absence of private spaces and sanitary products increases shame and isolation, affecting mental health and reinforcing gender inequalities. Despite these adversities, menstruating individuals exhibit resilience, creating makeshift hygiene solutions and supporting each other within their communities. However, the lack of consistent government and humanitarian support intensifies the burden.The article advocates for a holistic approach to menstrual health in crisis contexts—addressing not only the physical needs but also the social and mental dimensions. Menstrual health must be recognized as more than a hygiene issue; it is integral to dignity, gender equality, and well-being. Acknowledging menstrual health as a human right is essential to ensuring that menstruating individuals are empowered, respected, and not overlooked during crises.Article by Fien de Ridder, illustrated by Eline Veldhuisenhttps://theanthro.art/menstrual-health-in-crises-climate-change-social-exclusion-and-resilience/