More than Blood: A Psychological and Socio-cultural Examination of Menstrual Experiences

This thesis develops a psychological and socio-cultural understanding of the experience of menstruation in urban societies. The first study explores the socio-cultural construction of menstruation among urban Tamils and Malayalees in South India. The second study investigates the incidence of menstruation-related symptoms among a general population of women in India and Australia and ascertain factors that impact menstrual distress. Findings highlight the need to legitimise women’s menstruation-related distress and address challenges faced by menstruators in the public sphere. Insights from this research have implications for women’s well-being, reproductive health education, research, public policy, medicine, and therapy.