Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, 4103 LSB, Provo, UT, 84003, USA.
Arch Sex Behav. 2023 May;52(4):1535-1547. doi: 10.1007/s10508-023-02565-y. Epub 2023 Mar 1.
Social shame and stigma surround menstruation, which may compromise women's health and rights in various contexts. Men's attitudes are particularly important because men often hold positions of power that influence women's experience. This study examined factors associated with menstrual attitudes, including heteronormative attitudes, sexism, and family influences. A cross-sectional Qualtrics panel survey (n = 802; aged 18-44; 50.8% female) was performed. We tested a revised menstrual attitudes scale based on items drawn from previously validated measures. Data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling framework. Factor analysis identified and confirmed a 5-factor model for menstrual attitudes. Men endorsed more negative attitudes toward menstruation than women; however, this difference was largely explained by factors other than gender in the structural equation model. After controlling for family and demographic characteristics, attitudes toward openness and secrecy surrounding menstruation were most strongly associated with gender role expectations and hostile sexism. Benevolent sexism was associated with finding menstruation debilitating, denying menstrual symptoms, and endorsing avoidance of activities during menstruation. Heteronormative and sexist attitudes were associated with more negative menstrual attitudes, while increased menstrual knowledge was associated with more positive menstrual attitudes. The difference in menstrual attitudes between males and females was explained largely by heteronormative attitudes and sexism. This suggests that attitudes toward menstruation are closely linked to social ideals about men and women.
社会对月经的羞耻感和污名化可能会在各种情况下损害女性的健康和权利。男性的态度尤为重要，因为男性通常处于权力地位，会影响女性的体验。本研究调查了与月经态度相关的因素，包括异性恋规范态度、性别歧视和家庭影响。采用横断面研究方法，对 802 名年龄在 18-44 岁之间的参与者（50.8%为女性）进行了基于网络的问卷调查。我们对基于先前验证过的量表的月经态度修订量表进行了测试。使用结构方程建模框架对数据进行了分析。因子分析确定并证实了月经态度的 5 因素模型。男性对月经的态度比女性更消极；然而，在结构方程模型中，除了性别因素之外，还有其他因素可以解释这种差异。在控制了家庭和人口统计学特征后，对月经的开放性和保密性的态度与性别角色期望和敌意性别歧视最密切相关。善意性别歧视与认为月经使人虚弱、否认月经症状以及在月经期间避免活动有关。异性恋规范和性别歧视态度与更消极的月经态度相关，而增加的月经知识与更积极的月经态度相关。男性和女性之间的月经态度差异主要归因于异性恋规范态度和性别歧视。这表明，对月经的态度与男性和女性的社会理想密切相关。
