M.C. (Maria Carmen) Punzi MSc

About 52% out of the female global population – that is 26% out of the total population - is of reproductive age which means that every day, more than 800 million women and girls are menstruating worldwide. Even though menstruation is deeply connected to challenges such as environmental sustainability, unmet need for contraception, gender-based violence and inequality, political institutions have been surprisingly silent on the topic: suffice here to look at milestone documents like the European Commission 2016-2020 Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015) where not even a hint is given to such a crucial matter.  

Menstruation is not simply a social and political matter. The menstrual products market is expected to raise to $42.7 billion by 2022 . The experience of menstruation is mediated by products, the marketing and advertisements of which influence the way women relate to their bodies and identities. Research is increasingly showing that girls not only in developing countries, but in wealthy areas like the United Kingdom struggle to afford their monthly supply of pads and tampons and sometimes have to choose between them and food. This shows that a research on the topic necessitates an economic reflection. 

This project sets to understand the topic of menstrual health as a hub of strategic importance thanks to its timely and interdisciplinary nature, and an excellent case to study how, in a complex society like ours, the path towards collaborative governance unfolds. Menstrual health sets the scene to understand and study inclusivity on two levels. First, it helps us truly imagine how an equitable society would look like, one where menstruation does not represent an obstacle to opportunities and everyday actions for women. Second, it guides our analysis of how collaborative decision-making can unfold, and which challenges and opportunities can arise, given the lively and progressive momentum that is being built around menstruation in different fields. 

The menstrual health context will be analyzed as a case where different stakeholders – social entrepreneurs, incumbent firms, non-profit organizations, regulators and donors – dynamically interact and work towards collaborative governance. This will mean studying the motivations and capabilities of non-state actors, who are increasingly harnessed in assuming regulatory responsibilities and contributing to public goals. In this way, the research aims at casting light on the processes and dynamics through which relevant public policies come to be - both at national and European level –, new standards are sought, and management strategic decisions are taken by entrepreneurs combining socially responsible behaviour with the need to make profits.

This project is appointed under the Erasmus Initiative 'Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity'.