Paper short abstract:

The authors used Collaborative Filmmaking in Nepal with 13 women, empowering them to record and share their menstrual traditions within their communities and policymakers. Authors will reflect on key lessons gained and how Collaborative Films can advance menstrual health discourse and action.

Paper long abstract:

Most women and girls throughout Nepal practice at least one menstrual restriction, which often leads to menstrual discrimination. The dominant narrative centers on the image of women being ‘confined to the cow shed,’ yet this ignores the complexities of everyday lived experiences. Collaborative Filmmaking – a visual, participatory research method in which participants are trained to create, analyze, and screen films - was used to engage 13 women in sharing their own experiences of menstrual restrictions, taboos, and solutions. They wrote, filmed, and directed their own films about menstruation, including writing and performing original songs.

Two films, a documentary ('8-day journey') and a drama (‘Stay Away’) were produced. One provides a detailed look into the lives of women’s practices and traditions whilst menstruating. The drama tells the story of a loved village grandmother who believes she has been cursed and fallen ill from being touched by a menstruating woman, wrestling with notions of purity and pollution ending with a powerful message for those still following menstrual traditions from Nepali women themselves.

While the films offer rich, emic knowledge regarding menstrual experiences in Nepal, they also serve as authentic advocacy tools and community engagement tools. To better understand how community-created films impact decision making, we held national-level and district-level film screenings for policymakers and key decision makers working on menstruation and gender issues. Through surveys and discussions with audiences, we generated a deeper understanding of the power of community-created films for advocacy and systemic change at various policy levels.