Design Research, play Based Learning
Changing attitudes among young girls and women about menstruation
The objective was to educate the girls and women of UP and Haryana with information on menstrual health and hygiene and address myths related to menstruation connect with discrimination and violence faced by girls and women. By giving information on What, Why and How of periods, we built two games that addressed the Feeling of being dirty /घिन (Disgust) through play and game-based learning.
Outline of the villages visited
Economically backward areas
Flood prone areas
Wheat farming
Education - primary and upper primary
Existing programs on MHM: Distribution of pads, no other form of education on MHM
Mindset around Menstruation
What words do they associate with periods?
घिन, अशुद्ध, गन्दा
शर्म, दर्द, समस्या
What would you wish to do during your period?
The most common wish was to play.
They want to play kabadi, rope jumping, football.
What do they feel during periods
They feel dirty
Don't feel like sitting with anyone
They feel irritated
Don't feel like talking to anyone
What Questions do you have around periods?
खून कहाँ से आता है?, पीरियड्स क्यूं होते हैं?
पीरियड आने समय क्यूँ पापा और भाई के साथ बात नहीं करते
पीरियड के बारे में जानना है कि पीरियड्स क्यों आते है?
खराब खून क्यों होता है?, पीरियड्स आने में हम क्या कर सकते है?
Persona 1
“मुझे किसी से बात करने में शर्मिंदगी और डर नहीं है”
“डॉक्टर भी तो लड़के होते है”
Persona 2
“इस बारे में बात करना मना है”
Persona 3
“हम ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा माँ और बहन से ही बात कर सकते है”
दिहात मैं ऐसे ही होता है
Insights
Lack of basic knowledge about MHM
Periods cause the feeling of disgust
It is bad blood and is considered dirty
“periods are necessary to give birth to kids”
They were open to learning
They have very low understanding of the visuals/icons related to MHM
They can read well, but not everyone are comfortable with writing.
Most of them want to know more about periods. The What, How and Why
Myths are internalised, they have accepted it to be part of periods. Their socio economic conditions at times force them to break these myths.
They have been asked not to talk about periods but some girls are willing to talk about this in front of everyone. However, it might not be appropriate to talk in front of boys as they tease and make fun. Hence the game has to be kept only for girls
It may not be possible to segregate boys and girls at the community mela
Game Testing and Trials
This project was done with Kaboom Social impact (for Breakthrough). Final output is confidential.