Mapping the newly menstruating body: Qualitative analysis of teachers' experiences with menstruation education and ""hygiene"" curriculum in elementary schools
Description
Menstruation curricula in elementary schools presents an opportunity to better examine the early teachings about menstruation, as this is often the first time that young people learn about gender difference within school sanctioned curricula. A closer examination of this pedagogical moment from the perspective of educators helps us to understand the dissemination of the shame narrative present in menstrual socialization. Six teachers were interviewed about their experiences with administering the menstrual health curriculum in elementary schools across a large southwest metropolitan area. A discourse analysis of these interviews was completed in order to find themes of language used surrounding menstrual health curriculum. Themes of shame, legislative restrictions on sex education curriculum and personal narratives surrounding menstruation are discussed in addition to the current neo-liberal structure of public health curriculum. Future research into alternative modes of education on menstruation is proposed.
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2014-05
Agent
- Author (aut): Gonzalez, Jaqueline Jean
- Thesis director: Fahs, Breanne
- Committee member: Grzanka, Patrick
- Contributor (ctb): Barrett, The Honors College
- Contributor (ctb): School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies
- Contributor (ctb): School of Social and Behavioral Sciences