Menstrual equity in Canada, current knowledge and future research directions: Literature review

The following report, prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), provides a review of literature reflecting current knowledge about menstrual equity, the extent of period poverty in Canada and future research directions. The report also includes a summary overview of key terms and concepts, frameworks and context factors relevant to the present study. Analysis was guided by the PROGRESS-Plus approach (1), which serves to ensure an equity lens in research. The current report is one of three submitted to WAGE: Literature review, Qualitative research, and High-level environmental scan. Research examining menstruation, the menstrual cycle and the lived experiences of menstruators has been historically marginalized (2). Recent years have seen a proliferation of research and literature; however, primarily within global public health or countries outside Canada (3). Here in Canada, we are just beginning to understand the differential impacts of period poverty on vulnerable and marginalized groups, as well as the range of systemic factors that shape menstrual inequities. Existing Canadian scholarly and grey publications reflect the nascent character of menstrual equity knowledge in Canada, while acknowledging the importance of key frameworks for directing future research.