Profile
孫詩彧、祁暁航、張思銘（北海道大学）
Hokkaido University Assistant Professor
Creative Research Institution & Faculty of Education
My research focuses on the sociology of gender and family.
In my former job, I was engaged in a project that provides sanitary products by installing napkin boxes in toilets. Because we faced various criticisms and challenges at that time, we saw the need for this research project. I want to make sure that the important ideas of achieving gender equality and solving menstrual poverty have a real-world impact for women. Please support our research activities that will lay the foundation for such a movement!
Qi Xiaohang:
I am a doctoral student at the Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University. I am quadrilingual in Chinese, Japanese, English, and Korean.
My research explores the re-organization of residents in relation to the social development of rural communities from the perspective of social pedagogy. Through fieldwork, I focus on the empowerment of the elderly, women, and children—those who are seen as “marginalized” in the community. In addition to providing financial support for women's menstrual needs, we aim to investigate how educational activities can enhance women's self-awareness and empowerment.
ZHANG Siming
Academic researcher at Hokkaido University Graduate School of Education. Doctor of Philosophy (Education and Social Work). I am researching women's diverse lifestyles and economic disadvantages from the perspective of the life-course approach. I focus on women's poverty and welfare issues through the life stories of elderly women whose children are adults. Providing sanitary products to the general public is a significant anti-poverty measure for women, which will have a multigenerational impact on the lives of women and their families. I believe this research is important for the empowerment of women.
What is your research vision?
Our research is a cornerstone for building a more inclusive society. We are focusing on the "general availability of sanitary products," which is the practice of delivering sanitary products to those who need them.
Menstruation is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in half of all human beings and is related to human reproduction. However, both anthropological and folkloric studies have shown that menstruating women have been confined or excluded from society due to the notion that menstruating women are "unclean." According to one estimate, the number of menstrual periods experienced by modern women during their lifetime is more than nine times that of women in the Meiji era, when life expectancy was relatively short and periods of amenorrhea (due to childbearing) were also long. Women are responsible for self-care during menstruation in the contemporary society, due to the development of sanitary products. Many challenges faced by people who experience menstruation, including those who are poor and cannot afford sanitary products and transgender people, have been overlooked.
We are committed to creating a society that can provide menstrual products to those who need them. We will show that changes in our collective attitude toward menstruation, financial support, and institutionalized assistance can lead to a more inclusive society.
How do you realize your vision?
We will do a case study in East Asia. Research will be conducted on the following: the recent practice of providing cash and in-kind sanitary products to those who need them, the issues that have emerged from such practice, and the reasons why such a practice has been realized.
In Japan, in 2022, a MHLW survey showed us for the first time that younger generation and households with low annual income have struggled to procure sanitary products. It is hard to imagine the impact this will have on their physical and mental health, as well as the restrictions on their social lives. Despite these problems, efforts by the government have varied widely across regions. There has been very little academic discussions on the provision of sanitary products.
In our previous research, we found that the provision of sanitary products to the public is mainly done through three routes: "provision via companies, universities, and other institutions," "mutual help as NPOs and civic activities" and "government-led provision". In this order, we also found many of these practices in Japan, China, and Korea. Through the observation of these cases and interviews with those involved, we will examine the characteristics of each route, the effects of social education through practice, and the significance of stimulating social interest.
What is the research theme of this crowdfunding project?
Through case studies of practices in East Asia [China, Japan, and South Korea (CJK)] regarding the three routes, this study examines (1) the issues involved in providing sanitary products to the public; and (2) the impact these practices have on education (how to change people's awareness) and welfare (how to contribute to solving problems in people's economic and social participation).
Specifically, in organizing previous research, we will summarize the results of existing studies and social surveys, focusing on the following three points: (1) the changing attitudes toward menstruation; (2) the history and current status of sanitary products; and (3) the state of public provision of sanitary products in various regions in East Asia. We will identify the contemporary menstrual situation at a macro-level and lay the groundwork for the case studies.
The case studies will examine the background and challenges of the CJK practices, which are characterized by three routes, identify their commonalities and their respective contexts, and examine the potential for overcoming these challenges. We will also elucidate how the practice has affected the people (providers, recipients, and supporters of sanitary products) and the community. In conjunction with our research, we will incorporate our findings into an International Workshop, and discuss menstrual situations with people from different regions.
Request for Research Funding Support
For the past 2-3 years, the issue of "period poverty" has been receiving renewed attention, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The high taxation of sanitary products and the financial burden of buying them have been noted. The passage of the Scottish Sanitary Products Free Bill in November 2020 has accelerated the notion that sanitary products are essential items. The provision of sanitary products contributes to alleviating issues of poverty and creating an inclusive society.
But the response to this issue in East Asia has been relatively slow. There are many obstacles, including financial and institutional difficulties. Some other reasons the response has been slow in East Asia are the public’s attitude toward menstruation and the hygiene challenges involved in offering physical support. The challenge of providing sanitary products is not unique; it is a common obstacle faced by individuals dealing with financial constraints.
Therefore, we kindly request your support through crowdfunding to generate more awareness and engagement.
Your support will be put to good use to cover travel expenses for the case study, materials, and preparation for the Workshop and Symposium. Thank you in advance for your support!
About donation receipt
Donation receipts will only be sent within Japan. Please note that we cannot send receipts for donations made outside of Japan.
Recommender's comment
町田 奈緒士（まちだ なおと）
孫詩彧さんは、名古屋大学で2021年度に研究員をされておられ、その時に出会いました。私は、いわゆるジェンダー・アイデンティティは女性ではないの（男性寄り）ですが、生理のある身体に生まれた身として、経済的・身体的・心理的に生理がもたらす影響を日々実感してきました。本プロジェクトの対象には、シスジェンダー女性以外も想定されており、展開の射程の広さを感じさせます。プロジェクトの成功を、応援しています。
金 慧昇 (Hyeseung KIM)
韓国では2016年に、貧困家庭の女子学生がナプキンの代わりに靴のインソールを使っていたことが報道されました。その後、自治体を中心に青少年を対象として生理用品に対する金銭的補助や無償化のための政策が増えています。生活必需品である生理用品を「必要な人なら誰でも無償で」という普遍的な支給の対象にできるまではまだ程遠いですが、社会の認識は変わりつつあります。今回のプロジェクトが、日本における認識転換の契機となることを望みます。
範 雯雯（FAN Wenwen）
自分は月経とはじめて出会ってから17年。この17年間には、カバンや家のなかで生理用品のない日は一日もありません。生理用品は空気のような存在だと言えます。
しかし、現代の文明社会には貧困など様々な事情で生理用品を手に入れられない人がいます。この方たちはどのような状態で生理期間に直面しているのか、子ども教育を研究する者として、０歳女の子の母として、自分は非常に関心があります！この研究に期待しています！
丸山 さとみ（まるやま さとみ）
私は女性のホームレスの人たちについて研究してきました。生理用品は、彼女たちがほしいもののなかでもっとも優先順位が高いものでしたが、コンスタントに手に入れるのは簡単ではありませんでした。私が昨年度、滞在していたスコットランドでは、美術館などの公共施設や大学には、無料の生理用品が置いてありました。日本も、必要な人が必要なときに、生理用品を手に入れられる社会になることを望んでいます。
中里 英樹（なかざと ひでき）
私は男性の育休取得を中心に、ジェンダーの枠を取り払うことを念頭に研究を行ってきました。しかし、月経への対処に関する社会的な課題については、男性にとって見えづらく、また言及しづらいこともあり、自分の研究の中で目配りしきれずにいました。本プロジェクトの研究成果はもちろんクラウドファンディングによる研究費取得というこの仕組みを通じて、ジェンダーにかかわらず多くの人が課題への理解を深められることに期待します。
Project timeline
| Date | Plans |
|---|---|
| 07/2023 | Start of research: organize previous studies and prepare case studies |
| 09/2023 | Start of case study in Japan (interviews with universities and companies) |
| 10/2023 | Start of case study in China (observation and interviews with civic groups NPOs, etc.) |
| 10/2023 | Start of South Korea case study (analysis of administrative data and SNS postings) |
| 12/2023 | Review and analyze collected data |
| 02/2024 | International Workshop (planned) |
| 04/2024 | Symposium (planned) |
| 06/2024 | Compile research results into a paper and submit (planned) |
Pledge Rewards
We will send you a thank you message by e-mail. The implementation of this return is scheduled for July 2023.
Thank you message. / Donation receipt
7 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will send you an electronic version of our newsletter, which contains current information on events related to menstruation and sanitary products, and as well as updates on the progress of our research. This newsletter will also be published on our official Twitter account（@ GASP_Study） about a month after the newsletter is sent to donors.
Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Thank you message. / Donation receipt
2 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will acknowledge your contribution in the research report that will be submitted to an academic journal (the report will be written within a year after the completion of the research), and an original pouch will be sent by mail. The image shown is for illustrative purposes only. The mailing will be limited to those in Japan.
Acknowledgment signature and original pouch for the research report. / Thank you message. / Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Donation receipt
15 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
You will be invited to the Workshop and Symposium on this project when they are held. An original tote bag will be given exclusively to attendees who have accepted the invitation.
The Workshop will be held in February 2024 @ Hokkaido, and the Symposium will be held in April 2024 @ Tokyo. You will be responsible for your own travel and other expenses.
Invitation to Workshop and Symposium / Thank you message. / Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Acknowledgment signature and original pouch for the research report. / Donation receipt
1 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will acknowledge your contribution by publishing your name in the research paper. The implementation of this return is scheduled for June 2024.
Please note that this return may be delayed depending on the progress of our research.
Your name in the paper acknowledgments. / Thank you message. / Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Invitation to Workshop and Symposium / Acknowledgment signature and original pouch for the research report. / Donation receipt
1 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will provide an opportunity to discuss this research with all research members. Specific details, dates, and implementation methods will be discussed on an individual basis.
Individual Discussion / Thank you message. / Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Invitation to Workshop and Symposium / Your name in the paper acknowledgments. / Acknowledgment signature and original pouch for the research report. / Donation receipt
2 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will give a lecture on this research. Specific details and dates will be discussed on an individual basis.
*Accommodation and transportation expenses for the lecturer will be charged separately.
Business Trip Lecture / Thank you message. / Newsletter Tentatively every three months. / Invitation to Workshop and Symposium / Your name in the paper acknowledgments. / Individual Discussion / Acknowledgment signature and original pouch for the research report. / Donation receipt
0 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
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academist Prize 4th adopted
