以社會創新觀點推動臺灣月經平權之效益研究

Abstract

近年來，「月經平權」的概念在國內外不斷受到關注，分為「月經汙名」與「月經貧窮」兩大面向。回顧台灣的月經平權現況，由於月經長期被汙名化為不潔的象徵，女性必須妥善地隱藏，避免引人注目。2000年初，台灣始有一群對於各種生理用品皆躍躍欲試、從使用者、推廣者轉為創業者的女性。她們認為每位女性的經期狀況、身體構造皆有差異，生理用品的選擇也必須多元發展。這些推廣者懷著打造多元生理用品市場的願景，走上創業之路。其特性有三：提倡多元的生理用品、開展月經議題的能見度、重視教育層面。這些實踐相當符合「社會創新」的觀點，意即為滿足社會需求或消除社會問題，透過創新的產品、服務等形式作為解決方法，目的在於改善人們的生活品質與福祉。故本研究以「凱娜棉條」與「月亮褲」兩家社會創新生理用品企業作爲研究個案。從中探討其產品使用者對於身體、月經看法上的變化，探討社會創新生理用品企業的行動對於台灣月經平權的貢獻，並從經營模式中分析目前該類型企業所面臨的困境與解決方法。結果發現：一、產品使用者皆表示使用創新生理用品對於身體的看法上跳脫了對於經血的負面印象、信任自己的身體經驗，且產生自己的一套身體價值觀；對於月經的看法也從「負面看待」到「只是一個生理現象」，與月經和平共處。二、綜合產品使用者對於身體與月經的改觀，以及社會創新生理用品企業捐助生理用品與推廣月經教育的行動，長遠來看將對月經平權的效益產生積極的改善。三、兩個案在議題推廣與產品銷售上，遇到中介者的質疑、研發困境、實體通路的上架規則與產品特色之限制影響營收等挑戰。總體而言，月經議題如何在台灣被運用「社會創新」的觀點去改善，本研究認為在於社會創新生理用品企業持續落實「資訊傳播」，不斷透過產品、講座、教材或其他方案創造討論。In recent years, the concept of"menstrual equity" has garnered increasing attention both domestically and internationally, focusing on two main aspects: "menstrual stigma" and "menstrual poverty." Reviewing the current state of menstrual equity in Taiwan, menstruation has long been stigmatized as a symbol of impurity, compelling women to conceal it properly to avoid drawing attention. In the early 2000s, a group of Taiwanese women, eager to explore various menstrual products, transitioned from users and promoters to entrepreneurs. They believed that each woman's menstrual condition and body structure differ, necessitating a diverse range of menstrual product options. These advocates, driven by the vision of creating a diverse menstrual product market, embarked on the path of entrepreneurship. Their efforts are characterized by three main features: advocating for diverse menstrual products, increasing the visibility of menstrual issues, and emphasizing education.

These practices align closely with the concept of "social innovation," which aims to meet social needs or address social problems through innovative products and services, ultimately improving people's quality of life and well-being. Therefore, this study examines two social innovation menstrual product companies, " kirakira applicator tampon" and " GoMoond," as case studies. It explores the changes in product users' perceptions of their bodies and menstruation, evaluates the contributions of social innovation menstrual product companies to menstrual equity in Taiwan, and analyzes the challenges and solutions faced by such enterprises in their business models.

The findings reveal three main points: (1) Product users reported that using innovative menstrual products helped them overcome negative impressions of menstrual blood, trust their bodily experiences, and develop their own body values. Their views on menstruation shifted from"negative" to "just a physiological phenomenon," leading to peaceful coexistence with their menstruation. (2) The combination of product users' changed perceptions of their bodies and menstruation, along with the actions of social innovation menstrual product companies in donating products and promoting menstrual education, is expected to have a positive long-term impact on menstrual equity. (3) The two cases faced challenges such as skepticism from intermediaries, research and development difficulties, restrictions imposed by physical retail channels, and limitations of product features, all of which affected revenue. Overall, this study suggests that the improvement of menstrual issues in Taiwan through the concept of"social innovation" relies on the continuous implementation of "information dissemination" by social innovation menstrual product companies, fostering discussion through products, seminars, educational materials, and other initiatives.