Between concealment and exposure – menstruation status in professional sport from a sociological perspective

Honorata Jakubowska

doi:10.18778/0208-600X.90.01

Autor

Honorata Jakubowska Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Sociology, Department of Sociology of Individual and Social Relations https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-4297

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-600X.90.01

Słowa kluczowe:

menstruacja, sport profesjonalny, socjologia, kultura ukrywania, menstruacyjny aktywizm

Abstrakt

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest opisanie, w oparciu o przegląd literatury, statusu menstruacji w sporcie profesjonalnym z perspektywy socjologicznej. W pierwszej części artykułu opisano szerszy kontekst społeczno-kulturowy, który kształtuje postrzeganie i doświadczanie menstruacji, a następnie dokonano przeglądu literatury poświęconej sportowi. W drugiej części omówiono główne czynniki kształtujące status menstruacji w sporcie profesjonalnym, tj. kulturę ukrywania, charakterystykę sportu, medialny przekaz sportu i aktywizm menstruacyjny. Jak wskazuje artykuł, współwystępowanie tych czynników powoduje, że z jednej strony menstruacja rzadko jest przedmiotem komunikacji, zwłaszcza tej skierowanej do szerszej publiczności, z drugiej zaś aktywizm menstruacyjny przyczynia się do pewnych zmian związanych z dress codem czy otwartą dyskusją na tematy menstruacyjne. W podsumowaniu podkreślono wartość socjologicznych badań nad menstruacją w sporcie, wskazując na znaczenie tego tematu w badaniach podstawowych i stosowanych oraz wpływ społeczny takich badań.

Bibliografia

Barnack-Tavlaris J.L., Hansen K., Levitt R.B., Reno M. (2019), Taking leave to bleed: Perceptions and attitudes toward menstrual leave policy, “Health Care for Women International”, vol. 40(12), pp. 1355–1373. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2019.1639709
Google Scholar

Bobel C. (2010), New Blood: Third-Wave feminism and the politics of menstruation, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick.
Google Scholar

Bobel C., Fahs B. (2020), From bloodless respectability to radical menstrual embodiment: Shifting menstrual politics from private to public, “Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society”, vol. 45(4), pp. 955–983. https://doi.org/10.1086/707802
Google Scholar

Bobel Ch., Winkler I.T., Fahs B., Hasson K.A., Kissling E.A., Roberts T.A. (eds.) (2020), The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
Google Scholar

Brown N., Knigh C.J., Forrest L.J. (2020), Elite female athletes’ experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on training and sport performance, “Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports”, vol. 31(1), pp. 52–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13818
Google Scholar

Chrisler J.C. (2011), Leaks, Lumps, and Lines: Stigma and Women’s Bodies, “Psychology of Women Quarterly”, vol. 35(2), pp. 202–214. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684310397698
Google Scholar

Criado Perez S. (2019), Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, Chatto & Windus, London.
Google Scholar

Del Saz-Rubio M.M., Pennock-Speck B. (2009), Constructing Female Identities Through Feminine Hygiene TV Commercials, “Journal of Pragmatics”, vol. 41(12), pp. 2535–2556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2009.04.005
Google Scholar

Delaney J., Lupton M., Toth E. (1988), The Curse: A Cultural History of Menstruation, University of Illinois Press, Chicago.
Google Scholar

Dowling C. (2001), The Frailty Myth: Redefining The Physical Potential of Women and Girls, Random House, New York.
Google Scholar

Dykzeul A.J. (2016), The Last Taboo in Sport: Menstruation in Female Adventure Racers, Master dissertation, Massey University Auckland, New Zealand.
Google Scholar

Erchull M.J. (2013), Distancing through Objectification? Depictions of Women’s Bodies in Menstrual Product Advertisements, “Sex Roles”, vol. 68(1–2), pp. 32–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0004-7
Google Scholar

Fahs B. (2016), Out for Blood. Essays on Menstruation and Resistance, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY.
Google Scholar

Findlay R.J., Macrae E.H.R., Whyte I.Y., Easton C., Forrest L.J. (2020), How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: Experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players, “British Journal of Sports Medicine”, vol. 54, pp. 1108–1113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101486
Google Scholar

Fingerson L. (2005), Agency and the Body in Adolescent Menstrual Talk, “Childhood”, vol. 12(1), pp. 91–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0907568205049894
Google Scholar

Forster K. (2016), Chinese Province Grants Women Two Days ‘Period Leave’ a Month, “Independent”, August 18. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinaperiod-leave-ningxiawomentwodays-a-month-menstruation-a7197921.html [accessed: 5.04.2023].
Google Scholar

Gottlieb A. (2020), Menstrual Taboo: Moving Beyond the Curse, [in:] Bobel Ch., Winkler I.T., Fahs B., Hasson K.A., Kissling E.A., Roberts T.A. (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, pp. 143–162, Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
Google Scholar

Höök M., Bergström M., Sæther S.A., McGawley K. (2021), “Do Elite Sport First, Get Your Period Back Later”. Are Barriers to Communication Hindering Female Athletes?, “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health”, vol. 17/18(22): 12075. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212075
Google Scholar

Houppert K. (1999), The Curse: Confronting The Last Unmentionable Taboo, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York.
Google Scholar

Jakubowska H. (2014), Gra ciałem. Praktyki i dyskursy różnicowanie płci w sporcie, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.
Google Scholar

Jakubowska H. (2015), Are women still the ‘other sex’: gender and sport in the Polish mass media, “Sport in Society”, vol. 18(2), pp. 168–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2013.854464
Google Scholar

Johnston-Robledo I., Chrisler J.C. (2013), The Menstrual Mark: Menstruation as Social Stigma, “Sex Roles”, vol. 68, pp. 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0052-z
Google Scholar

Kissling E.A. (1999), When Being Female Isn’t Feminine: Uta Pippig and Menstrual Communication Taboo in Sports Journalism, “Sociology of Sport Journal”, vol. 16(2), pp. 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.16.2.79
Google Scholar

Kristeva J. (1982), Powers of Horror: An Essay of Abjection, Columbia University Press, New York.
Google Scholar

Laske H., Konjer M., Meier H.E. (2022), Menstruation and training – A quantitative study of (non-)communication about the menstrual cycle in German sports clubs, “International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching”, vol. 19(1), pp. 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221143061
Google Scholar

MacDonald S.M. (2007), Leaky Performances: The Transformative Potential of Menstrual Leaks, “Women’s Studies in Communication”, vol. 30(3), pp. 340–357. https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2007.10162518
Google Scholar

Major M. (2018), Z pewną taką nieśmiałością… O krwi menstruacyjnej w (neo)serialach dla dziewczyn i kobiet, [w:] Jachymek K., Major M. (eds.), Wydzieliny, pp. 183–203, Wydawnicwo Naukowe Katedra, Gdańsk.
Google Scholar

Meignié A., Duclos M., Carling C., Orhant E., Provost P., Toussaint J., Antero J. (2021), The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Elite Athlete Performance: A Critical and Systematic Review, “Frontiers in Physiology”, vol. 12, pp. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.654585
Google Scholar

Menstruation (2020), Report on quantitative and qualitative research conducted by research company Difference on behalf of the Kulczyk Foundation, Warsaw.
Google Scholar

Merskin D. (1999), Adolescence, Advertising, and The Idea of Menstruation, “Sex Roles”, vol. 40, pp. 941–957. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018881206965
Google Scholar

Moreno-Black G., Vallianatos H. (2005), Young Women’s Experiences of Menstruation and Athletics, “Women’s Studies Quarterly”, vol. 33(1/2), pp. 50–67.
Google Scholar

Mujika I., Tajpale R.S. (2019), Sport Science on Women, Women in Sport Science, “International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance”, vol. 14(8), pp. 1013–1014. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0514
Google Scholar

Przybylo E., Fahs B. (2020), Empowered Bleeders and Cranky Menstruators: Menstrual Positivity and the “Liberated” Era of New Menstrual Product Advertisement, [in:] Bobel Ch., Winkler I.T., Fahs B., Hasson K.A., Kissling E.A., Roberts T.A. (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, pp. 375–394, Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
Google Scholar

Rice C. (2014), Becoming Women: The Embodied Self in Image Culture, The University of Toronto Press, Toronto.
Google Scholar

Rode D. (2016), O kilku obliczach menstruacyjnego aktywizmu, “Civitas Hominibus”, vol. 11, pp. 123–135. https://doi.org/10.25312/2391-5145.11/2016_123-135
Google Scholar

#SayPeriod: Hannah Miley discusses campaign urging people to break stigma on language around periods (2022), “Sky Sport”, October, 26. https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/swimming/news/29877/12729597/sayperiod-hannah-miley-discusses-campaign-urging-people-to-breakstigma-on-language-around-periods [accessed: 2.10.2023].
Google Scholar

Schneider A.J. (2000), On The Definition of ‘Woman’ in The Sport Context, [in:] Tännsjö T., Tamburrini C. (eds.), Values in Sport: Elitism, Nationalism, Gender Equality, and the Scientific Manufacture of Winners, pp. 123–138, Taylor and Francis, London.
Google Scholar

Sheppard E. (2023), Athletes and periods: how the sporting world is starting to smash taboos, “Positive.News”, March, 8. https://www.positive.news/society/athletes-and-periods-how-the-sporting-world-is-finally-starting-to-smash-taboos/ [accessed: 31.10.2023].
Google Scholar

Solli G.S., Sandbakk S.B., Noordhof D.A., Ihalainen J.K., Sandbakk Ø. (2020), Changes in self-reported physical fitness, performance, and side effects across the phases of the menstrual cycle among competitive endurance athletes, “International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance”, vol. 15, pp. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0616
Google Scholar

Thornton L.J. (2013), ‘Time of the Month’ on Twitter: Taboo, Stereotype and Bonding in a No-Holds-Barred Public Arena, “Sex Roles”, vol. 68, pp. 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0041-2
Google Scholar

Ubóstwo menstruacyjne w opiniach i doświadczeniach kobiet [Menstrual poverty in women’s opinions and experiences] (2021), Raport z projektu badawczego Fundacji “Różowa Skrzyneczka.” https://rozowaskrzyneczka.pl/badania/ [accessed: 30.04.2024].
Google Scholar

Ussher J.M. (2006), Managing the Monstrous Feminine: Regulating the Reproductive Body, Routledge, London and New York.
Google Scholar

Van Lonkhuijzen R.M., Garcia F.K., Wagemakers A. (2023), The Stigma Surrounding Menstruation: Attitudes and Practices Regarding Menstruation and Sexual Activity During Menstruation, “Women’s Reproductive Health”, vol. 10(3), pp. 364–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2022.2124041
Google Scholar

Verhoef S.J., Wielink M.C., Achterberg E.A., Bongers M.Y., Goossens S. (2021), Absence of Menstruation in Female Athletes: Why They Do Not Seek Help, “BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation”, vol. 13(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00372-3
Google Scholar

Vostral S.L. (2008), Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology, Lexington Books, Lanham, MD.
Google Scholar

Weaving Ch. (2017), Breaking Down the Myth and Curse of Women Athletes: Enough is Enough. Period, “Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal”, vol. 25(1), pp. 43–49. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2016-0010
Google Scholar

Young I.M. (2005), On Female Body Experience: “Throwing Like a Girl” and Other Essays, Oxford University Press, New York.
Google Scholar

Zawadzka D., Grygorowicz M. (2023), The importance of the menstrual cycle in women’s sports – football players’ opinion, “Issues of Rehabilitation Orthopaedics Neurophysiology and Sport Promotion – IRONS”, vol. 43, pp. 19–30. DOI: 10.19271/IRONS-000187-2023-43
Google Scholar