Research

Menstrual tracking app users in India: a study of bodies beyond binaries

This project centres the experiences of people in India who use digital period tracking solutions to monitor their cycles, with a particular focus on queer, caste-marginalised and rural menstruators.

It responds to existing research in the field, which is largely situated in the Global North, as well as to the predominantly market-driven orientation of Indian scholarship on digital period tracking. In contrast, this study foregrounds the intersectional and lived experience of Indian users as they engage with these tools.

Drawing on 30 in-depth interviews and two participatory speculative workshops, the research situates everyday menstrual tracking practices within broader social contexts shaped by menstrual taboos, uneven access to healthcare, dynamics of surveillance and care, and rapid digitisation.

In navigating the unexplored intersections of menstrual health and digital technology, this work aims to inspire a collective effort toward redefining ‘digital good’ in the context of menstrual health, fostering a more just and equitable society.

Team

Arathy Sb, PhD student, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield.

Professor Helen Kennedy, Professor of Digital Society, University of Sheffield.

Dr Ros Williams, Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Society, University of Sheffield.