Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.

This article analyzes menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa as both a biological and cultural event with deep social and gender implications. It explores the rituals and practices associated with the onset of menstruation, as well as the challenges faced by girls due to menstrual taboos, misinformation, an...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: Universidad Nacional de Rosario 2025
Materias:
Menarquía
Africa subsahariana
Tab´ú menstrual
Políticas públicas
Equidad de género
Menarche
Sub-Saharan Africa
Menstrual taboo
Public policy
Gender equity
Acceso en línea:https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/165
Aporte de:
Claroscuro de Universidad Nacional de Rosario
id I15-R225-article-165
record_format ojs
spelling I15-R225-article-1652025-11-18T11:45:33Z Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity. Menarquía en África subsahariana: : entre los desafíos del tabú, las políticas públicas y las expresiones culturales de la feminidad. Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa Menarquía Africa subsahariana Tab´ú menstrual Políticas públicas Equidad de género Menarche Sub-Saharan Africa Menstrual taboo Public policy Gender equity This article analyzes menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa as both a biological and cultural event with deep social and gender implications. It explores the rituals and practices associated with the onset of menstruation, as well as the challenges faced by girls due to menstrual taboos, misinformation, and lack of access to hygiene products. Drawing on case studies from Malawi, Kenya and Sudan, the paper examines how rites of passage can serve as mechanisms for social integration or sources of exclusion. Furthermore, it reflects on the role of public policies, human rights frameworks, and ecofeminist movements in advocating for dignified menstruation, free from stigma and in conditions of equity. The study suggests that redefining menarche could contribute to building substantive gender equity and empowering girls in the region. Este artículo analiza la menarquía en África subsahariana como un evento biológico y cultural con profundas implicaciones sociales y de género. Se exploran los rituales y prácticas asociados al inicio de la menstruación, así como los desafíos que enfrentan las niñas debido al tabú menstrual, la desinformación y la falta de acceso a productos de higiene. A partir del estudio de casos como Malawi, Kenia y Sudán, se examina cómo los ritos de paso pueden ser tanto mecanismos de integración social como fuentes de exclusión. Además, se reflexiona sobre el papel de las políticas públicas, los derechos humanos y los movimientos ecofeministas en la búsqueda de una menstruación digna, libre de estigma y en condiciones de equidad. El trabajo propone que resignificar la menarquía podría contribuir a la construcción de una equidad sustantiva y al empoderamiento de las niñas en la región. Universidad Nacional de Rosario 2025-08-09 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/165 10.35305/cl.vi24.165 Claroscuro. Revista del Centro de Estudios sobre Diversidad Cultural; No. 24 (2025): Childhoods in the Colonial Present; 1-16 Claroscuro. Revista del Centro de Estudios sobre Diversidad Cultural; Núm. 24 (2025): Infancias en el presente colonial; 1-16 2314-0542 spa https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/165/154 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
institution Universidad Nacional de Rosario
institution_str I-15
repository_str R-225
container_title_str Claroscuro
language Español
format Artículo revista
topic Menarquía
Africa subsahariana
Tab´ú menstrual
Políticas públicas
Equidad de género
Menarche
Sub-Saharan Africa
Menstrual taboo
Public policy
Gender equity
spellingShingle Menarquía
Africa subsahariana
Tab´ú menstrual
Políticas públicas
Equidad de género
Menarche
Sub-Saharan Africa
Menstrual taboo
Public policy
Gender equity
Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa
Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
topic_facet Menarquía
Africa subsahariana
Tab´ú menstrual
Políticas públicas
Equidad de género
Menarche
Sub-Saharan Africa
Menstrual taboo
Public policy
Gender equity
author Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa
author_facet Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa
author_sort Martínez Herrera, Ana Larisa
title Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
title_short Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
title_full Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
title_fullStr Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
title_full_unstemmed Menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa: : Between Taboo, State Policy, and the Cultural Construction of Femininity.
title_sort menarche in sub-saharan africa: : between taboo, state policy, and the cultural construction of femininity.
description This article analyzes menarche in Sub-Saharan Africa as both a biological and cultural event with deep social and gender implications. It explores the rituals and practices associated with the onset of menstruation, as well as the challenges faced by girls due to menstrual taboos, misinformation, and lack of access to hygiene products. Drawing on case studies from Malawi, Kenya and Sudan, the paper examines how rites of passage can serve as mechanisms for social integration or sources of exclusion. Furthermore, it reflects on the role of public policies, human rights frameworks, and ecofeminist movements in advocating for dignified menstruation, free from stigma and in conditions of equity. The study suggests that redefining menarche could contribute to building substantive gender equity and empowering girls in the region.
publisher Universidad Nacional de Rosario
publishDate 2025
url https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/165
work_keys_str_mv AT martinezherreraanalarisa menarcheinsubsaharanafricabetweentaboostatepolicyandtheculturalconstructionoffemininity
AT martinezherreraanalarisa menarquiaenafricasubsaharianaentrelosdesafiosdeltabulaspoliticaspublicasylasexpresionesculturalesdelafeminidad
first_indexed 2025-09-04T05:07:54Z
last_indexed 2025-12-04T05:11:20Z
_version_ 1850553224013021184

Ejemplares similares