Menstruation Matters on campus!

LJMU’s Menstruation Matters (MM) research project is set to make the university a pioneer in the higher education sector.

The campaign which combines practical benefits with awareness raising is seen as vital for attendance, participation and, of course, wellbeing for thousands of students and staff.

Organisers say it is important that academic life accounts for people’s bodily needs and want to ensure that care products are not only freely available but are the right ones for our community.

The team behind MM are trialling a new product in the SLB and Sports Building for four weeks and asking for feedback via a QR code:

• Free, in-cubicle Egal sanitary ‘Pads on a Roll’.
• Wall banners – “pictorial explainers” of how menstruation impacts university life and work displayed in the SLB and at Byrom Street to share key findings from the research and raise visibility of issues in line with student feedback.
• A new dedicated website, within the LJMU Staff Wellbeing Hub, co-created with students giving peer-to-peer advice. The site also explains support on campus and what students would like staff to know, such as not drawing attention to them arriving late or leaving early.

“We have conducted survey and interviews with staff and students around their needs and wishes,” explained Dr Katherine Neary (pictured above), a Business School lecturer and project lead who is working with Campus Services who are funding the campaign and the trial of Egal pads.

“This is very much a subject which is lacking visibility. This leads to misunderstandings about the sorts of impacts and experiences of menstruation.

“We are delighted to be now turning this around and championing these issues in higher education nationally.”

LJMU survey data showed a desire for dignity to be accounted for, such that tangible support, like pads, are inside toilet cubicles not placed in communal spaces. LJMU is believed to be the only UK university to be using the pads.

All students and staff who use the pads are invited to take a short survey via the QR code which will inform ongoing work.

The ‘educational’ banners in the SLB and Byrom St  which also responds to the survey, include messages around guilt when missing classes, brain fog, the impact on academic work and ideas to make life easier.

Katherine and collaborator Dr Gemma Dale have been supported by the Diversity & Inclusion Team, while the Student Union is taking actions in parallel such as training student reps in MM.

“‘LJMU students noted that menstruation is still not something that is visible as an issue impacting them and their university experience,” adds Katherine. “This means that as a university there is work to do to improve support available. We are delighted to be working to address current needs of students and raise the profile through our activities on campus and within higher education nationally.”

The project builds on the previous work of Professor Kay Standing, Professor Sara Parker and Dr Bee Hughes.