Knowledge Exchange and Menstrual Equity : Creating Social Impact with Organisations, Educators, and Communities

This book illustrates how researchers, non-academic partners, and communities can work together to create social change. It presents successful examples of knowledge exchange activities about menstrual health, menstrual education, and reducing menstrual stigma. These activities draw on the author''s research with menstrual activists and young people. Through co-authorship of chapters and quotations from non-academic partners and communities, Knowledge Exchange and Menstrual Equity includes and amplifies the voices of those who inform, and are impacted by, research but are rarely visible in resulting publications.

Five case studies use testimonies and other forms of evidence from partners and beneficiaries including the British Standards Institution (BSI), social enterprises, NGOS, community groups, educators, and pupils, to illustrate how knowledge exchange (KE) activities based on the author’s research have shaped policies, improved knowledge about menstruation, reduced menstrual stigma, and helped to foster more inclusive cultures in workplaces and schools. These include the creation of guidance with community engagement specialist, Acushla Young, on how to communicate effectively about menstruation on social media; the author’s chairing a BSI committee to create a workplace standard on menstruation, menstrual health, and menopause; collaborations with Cysters, Irise International, the Menstrual Health Project, and Diversecity to create faith-informed menstrual health resources and workshops; and a collaboration with a teacher and performer to produce a theatre show and design a menstrual curriculum in primary schools.

Reflecting on challenges within KE, this book is a valuable resource for researchers at all career stages who want to learn about knowledge exchange and impact, who are planning KE activities, or who are intending to measure the impact of their research. It offers guidance on how to conduct KE in an ethical, inclusive, effective, and accessible manner that brings genuine benefits to organisations and communities.