Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain

[EN] This study explores contemporary views on menstruation in Spain, focusing on stigma and the social dynamics shaping menstrual experiences. Based on a national cross-sectional survey with over 4,000 participants aged 14 and older, we used a mixed methods approach combining statistical analysis a...

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Autores: Sánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023X, Poveda Bautista, Rocio|||0000-0001-8904-5421, Moll López, Santiago Emmanuel|||0000-0003-3388-5135, Barrington, Dani Jeniffer
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repositorio:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/231993
Acceso en línea:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/231993
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Menstruation
Stigma
Taboo
Gender norms
Menstrual education
Normalisation
Social attitudes
03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades
05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas
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network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in SpainSánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023XPoveda Bautista, Rocio|||0000-0001-8904-5421Moll López, Santiago Emmanuel|||0000-0003-3388-5135Barrington, Dani JenifferMenstruationStigmaTabooGender normsMenstrual educationNormalisationSocial attitudes03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas[EN] This study explores contemporary views on menstruation in Spain, focusing on stigma and the social dynamics shaping menstrual experiences. Based on a national cross-sectional survey with over 4,000 participants aged 14 and older, we used a mixed methods approach combining statistical analysis and thematic coding to examine both quantitative trends and personal narratives. Results show that menstruation remains moderately stigmatised. Perceptions of normalisation vary by gender, age, and reproductive stage, with post-menopausal women reporting the highest sense of societal acceptance. The strongest predictor of perceived normalisation was comfort discussing menstruation with cis-men, suggesting that challenging gendered silences may signal social change. Early practical education also contributed to greater comfort and normalisation later in life. Participants reported diverse experiences¿from internalised shame to frustration with unrealistic media portrayals and persistent silence in mixed-gender settings. Discomfort was often linked to social reactions, such as disapproval from male peers or exaggerated responses to blood stains, which reinforced menstrual taboos. In contrast, some emphasised the positive impact of supportive environments and efforts to reject euphemisms and confront stigma. Findings highlight the enduring influence of gendered norms related to secrecy, cleanliness, and femininity. While some generational change was noted, menstrual stigma remains socially embedded and continues to shape attitudes and behaviours. Tackling this requires not only better education, but also broader cultural and structural shifts¿including open, inclusive conversations that involve all genders.The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana (GVA) under the project Modelo de gestión para la integración de la investigación e innovación responsable en las estructuras de investigación sanitaria y biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana (RI-SABIO) (grant number CIAICO/2023/163).BioMed Central Ltd.Instituto de Gestión de la Innovación y del ConocimientoDepartamento de Matemática AplicadaDepartamento de Proyectos de IngenieríaEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Aeroespacial y Diseño IndustrialEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería IndustrialGENERALITAT VALENCIANARepositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politècnica de València Riunet20252025-10-15journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/231993reponame:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valénciainstname:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)InglésengGVA:eu-repo GVA:eu-repo grantAgreement GENERALITAT VALENCIANA CIAICO%2F2023%2F163open accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Reconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada (by-nc-nd) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:riunet.upv.es:10251/2319932026-06-13T07:49:27Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
title Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
spellingShingle Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
Sánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023X
Menstruation
Stigma
Taboo
Gender norms
Menstrual education
Normalisation
Social attitudes
03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades
05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas
title_short Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
title_full Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
title_fullStr Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
title_full_unstemmed Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
title_sort Stigma and silence: the menstrual taboo in Spain
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023X
Poveda Bautista, Rocio|||0000-0001-8904-5421
Moll López, Santiago Emmanuel|||0000-0003-3388-5135
Barrington, Dani Jeniffer
author Sánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023X
author_facet Sánchez-López, S.|||0000-0001-7680-023X
Poveda Bautista, Rocio|||0000-0001-8904-5421
Moll López, Santiago Emmanuel|||0000-0003-3388-5135
Barrington, Dani Jeniffer
author_role author
author2 Poveda Bautista, Rocio|||0000-0001-8904-5421
Moll López, Santiago Emmanuel|||0000-0003-3388-5135
Barrington, Dani Jeniffer
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Instituto de Gestión de la Innovación y del Conocimiento
Departamento de Matemática Aplicada
Departamento de Proyectos de Ingeniería
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Aeroespacial y Diseño Industrial
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial
GENERALITAT VALENCIANA
Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politècnica de València Riunet
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Menstruation
Stigma
Taboo
Gender norms
Menstrual education
Normalisation
Social attitudes
03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades
05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas
topic Menstruation
Stigma
Taboo
Gender norms
Menstrual education
Normalisation
Social attitudes
03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades
05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas
description [EN] This study explores contemporary views on menstruation in Spain, focusing on stigma and the social dynamics shaping menstrual experiences. Based on a national cross-sectional survey with over 4,000 participants aged 14 and older, we used a mixed methods approach combining statistical analysis and thematic coding to examine both quantitative trends and personal narratives. Results show that menstruation remains moderately stigmatised. Perceptions of normalisation vary by gender, age, and reproductive stage, with post-menopausal women reporting the highest sense of societal acceptance. The strongest predictor of perceived normalisation was comfort discussing menstruation with cis-men, suggesting that challenging gendered silences may signal social change. Early practical education also contributed to greater comfort and normalisation later in life. Participants reported diverse experiences¿from internalised shame to frustration with unrealistic media portrayals and persistent silence in mixed-gender settings. Discomfort was often linked to social reactions, such as disapproval from male peers or exaggerated responses to blood stains, which reinforced menstrual taboos. In contrast, some emphasised the positive impact of supportive environments and efforts to reject euphemisms and confront stigma. Findings highlight the enduring influence of gendered norms related to secrecy, cleanliness, and femininity. While some generational change was noted, menstrual stigma remains socially embedded and continues to shape attitudes and behaviours. Tackling this requires not only better education, but also broader cultural and structural shifts¿including open, inclusive conversations that involve all genders.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025-10-15
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/231993
url https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/231993
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv GVA:eu-repo GVA:eu-repo grantAgreement GENERALITAT VALENCIANA CIAICO%2F2023%2F163
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Reconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada (by-nc-nd)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Reconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada (by-nc-nd)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv BioMed Central Ltd.
publisher.none.fl_str_mv BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
instname:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
instname_str Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
reponame_str RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
collection RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15.811543

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