Violações a corpos que menstruam, políticas governamentais e saúde pública: um olhar constitucional acerca da dignidade menstrual

Abstract

Menstrual poverty is a complex phenomenon that requires a transdisciplinary approach to enable understanding of the holistic challenges faced by women and girls, directly impacting their health and development. In this context, the centrality of the problem lies in the social negligence and marginalization directed at female bodies due to menstruation, a biological process related to women's health, leading to the exclusion of the issue from the public agenda. Consequently, despite the profound impacts of menstrual poverty, the topic is overlooked in both social and governmental spheres, resulting in the violation of the dignity of menstruating individuals, whose demands are often silenced. Through qualitative research, based on bibliographic studies and deductive reasoning, this study aims to comprehend the nuances that encompass menstrual dignity, considering its precariousness as a public health issue. Across four chapters, the investigation explores the construction of hierarchical relationships rooted in gender inequality, the historically constructed perceptions of menstruation, and the manifestations of menstrual precarity. Additionally, international initiatives are analyzed to understand how the issue is addressed in other nations and derive lessons from those experiences. Subsequently, an examination of the legislative landscape regarding the issue in Brazil is conducted, investigating the main public policies aimed at alleviating menstrual poverty. Finally, menstrual dignity is analyzed from a legal perspective, highlighting its connection to fundamental rights and understanding it as an integral element of the right to health. The study emphasizes the importance of public policies in realizing menstrual dignity.