Attitudes toward menstrual suppression and conformity to feminine norms in young and middle-aged Mexican women

Abstract

Seventy seven college students and 66 middle-aged Mexican women completed an adapted questionnaire of attitudes toward menstrual suppression and the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory. Participants showed a great interest in menstrual suppression, but few were familiar with this issue. Young women would like to have longer menstrual cycles than monthly and were more supportive of menstrual suppression than middle-aged women. Women who would prefer to have longer menstrual cycles showed less conformity to feminine norms. These findings are discussed in light of differences between age cohorts, and the relationship between the studied variables and attitudes toward menstruation.

The role of menstruation in women's objectification: a questionnaire study

“…No studies were found that addressed ATMS and self‐objectification. However, the findings from the correlational analysis are in accordance with studies showing that higher scores on ATMS (Marvan & Lama ) and on SOQ (Brinkman et al . ) are related to traditional attitudes towards the feminine role.…”

“…The original instruments used in this study have all shown acceptable reliability and validity in various studies (McKinley & Hyde , Fredrickson & Roberts , Noll & Fredrickson , McKinley , Marvan et al . , Moradi & Huang , Marvan & Lama ). Permission to use all the instruments was gained from their authors.…”

“…Positive attitudes towards menstrual suppression are related to negative feelings about menstruation (Andrist et al . ) and to feminine gender roles (Marvan & Lama ). However, although women may find the thought of menstrual suppression appealing, they are ambivalent towards the suppression of their menses due to the long‐term risks and health uncertainties (Repta & Clarke ).…”

“…The negative consequences for a girl's self-imagenamely that of viewing her body as a problem in need of treatment throughout her reproductive lifeare not known (Mamo & Fosket 2014). Positive attitudes towards menstrual suppression are related to negative feelings about menstruation (Andrist et al 2004) and to feminine gender roles (Marvan & Lama 2009). However, although women may find the thought of menstrual suppression appealing, they are ambivalent towards the suppression of their menses due to the long-term risks and health uncertainties (Repta & Clarke 2013).…”

Ambivalent sexism, attitudes towards menstruation and menstrual cycle‐related symptoms

“…These results might be because BS suggests that women should be protected and cared for because they are vulnerable and weak and that women ought to be placed on a pedestal, but only if they conform to women's traditional roles. For traditionally oriented women, menstruation is a vital part of a woman's life (Marván & Lama, ), and it is consistent with, and perhaps necessary to, their concept of themselves as wives and mothers (Miller & Smith, ). If we put these ideas together, one might assume that a woman who agrees with BS statements holds the stereotypical belief that the premenstrual and menstrual phases are characterized by weakness and disability; therefore, she might also believe that a menstruating or premenstrual woman needs protection from some daily activities and stresses.…”