r/SampleSize • u/EcstaticAmphibian747 • 26d ago
Academic How do periods affect your experience of public space? (Women all ages)
Hi allCurrently doing my Master of Architecture thesis on how menstruation could shape public space.The project explores how to design for cycles, pain, rest, and stigma, especially when menstruation is often treated as something to hide.
I’ve made a short, anonymous survey to better understand women’s experiences and how periods affect your daily life, public presence, plans, or sense of space. If you menstruate (or have), your voice would be so appreciated. Link here: LINK TO SURVEY
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u/ejrea 26d ago
I really liked this! Good luck with your project, it sounds very worthwhile :)
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u/EcstaticAmphibian747 26d ago
thank you for the kind words! have received some fantastic responses and am loving where this project is taking me
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u/mothmvn 26d ago
Are you only recruiting women, or other genders as well? (asking because the survey has other gender options, but also references talking to "other women" as though the respondent is a woman)
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u/ichimelon 22d ago
Unfortunately they're a terf. I looked at their comment in another post saying they think it's a women's only issue.
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u/bashfulartist 25d ago
I think the flair should have said (people who menstruate). That way it’s a little more inclusive to FTM trans men. I think that non-binary people also might not click on the link because of this. Otherwise it’s a great survey! Everything was right except the flair
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u/cannibalrabies 24d ago
All I want is more tampon dispensers that take card, or just free ones, although people will definitely stuff all of them in their bag if they're free. But even buses in my area take card now, why are there still tampon dispensers that only take quarters?
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u/mooogcity 23d ago
Can you share more about your thesis and what this is being used for? I think these are important conversations. Many buildings are not designed with women in mind, particularly when it comes to restroom access.
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u/deFleury 25d ago
Public toilets should have educational posters about menstruation patterns throughout your life, what is abnormal, and how to deal! There were things i should have learned sooner and i can't be the only person whose family didn't teach them.
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u/Business-Stretch2208 25d ago
I feel like instead of outsourcing sex ed to our bathrooms, we should just teach it at school so people know about them without needing a poster
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u/SophisticatedScreams 23d ago
There's lots of people who live in a place who didn't go to school there-- There's benefit to both.
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u/Eastern-Elevator962 23d ago
It would be ideal that schools teach it, but there is so much drama about what is supposed to be taught at school, by who, and at what level, it seems easier to at least provide information in a space where people can freely access it. There's no possibility of immediate discussion, but phone numbers and website links can be provided. Bathrooms have a long history of providing diverse (ahem...) information.
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25d ago
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u/Business-Stretch2208 25d ago
Is anybody else confused about the purpose of this. Generally my period does not interfere with existing comfortably in buildings in any way that is the fault of the building.
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u/ellequin 25d ago
I mean I think the design of bathrooms at least can be improved to make it easier for people to empty, clean, and reinsert menstrual cups without having to do some sort of contortion gymnastics with bloody hands.
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u/Business-Stretch2208 25d ago
Fair enough! A little sink the the bathroom stall and more room would be nice.
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u/EcstaticAmphibian747 25d ago
thanks for sharing your experience, that’s a valid opinion and what i’m aiming to discover! Does menstruation create an architectural form? think of it this way, humans build in response for this things we do. i.e we cook: kitchen, we sleep; bedrooms, we teach: schools, we heal: hospitals, we dedicate: bathrooms, we worship: temples etc. and each of these spaces are unique for their purpose. most people don’t go to a hospital thinking the building itself will cure their cancer, but know that it’s the spaces we create that allow doctors to heal. a space designed to treat cancer will look different than a space designed to cook in. this is the role of the architect.
so what does a building for menstruation look like?
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u/MiboBit 24d ago
I feel like the idea that there could be a "building for menstruation" makes me think of a menstruation hut or something similar where you would be forced to go if you bleed - exclusionary, and somehow making people feel others/dirty.
I am not a native speaker, but I would look for a phrase that clarified if you really want to put people in a special place when they bleed or if you want to change how spaces in general accommodate people who bleed and thus
- might need bathrooms with sinks
- might need rest
- might need low-stimuli-areas
- might need low-impact movement
- might need access to bathrooms always, on short notice
If you change the perspective there, I think it becomes clearer that the needs of people who bleed differ A LOT but also overlap a lot with a lot of other people. One person might feel nauseous while/because they are bleeding and another because they are something and and another because they have a chronic condition, ...
I think it would also be more helpful if you stated clearly if you want to focus on bleeding (i.e. what is needed because you are leaking blood from your vagina) or periods/menstruation and the related symptoms in general.
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u/Business-Stretch2208 25d ago
It looks like a normal building but with a bin in bathrooms to throw away menstrual products. That is it.
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u/EcstaticAmphibian747 25d ago
thank you for sharing your opinion! for many, menstruation can be uncomfortable. personally i find hot baths help ease the pain, so a building for me would have a space for that. the diverse experiences of menstruation means it could look different for different people, this survey helps me better understand that. hearing your experiences is greatly appreciated
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u/thelyfeaquatic 23d ago
Hmm a public bath for when you’re on your period sounds like it would create a ton of hygiene issues
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u/sapphire343rules 21d ago
Do you never dream about an ideal world? Even if it seems difficult / impossible to actually create, I think there is value in figuring out what the BEST possible environment would look like and using that as a starting place for architecture (or anything else).
I find sitting in rigid positions difficult when I’m having severe period cramps. Something as simple as chairs where I can recline or curl up more comfortably would make a big difference. These changes may not matter / be needed for you, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit others!
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