Menstruation… en unik upplevelse!? : En kvalitativ studie om kvinnliga elevers erfarenhet av menstruation kopplat till ämnet idrott och hälsa

Sammanfattning: Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of female high school students’menstruation in relation to the subject of physical education, as well as students' experiencesof teachers' responses to menstruation during lessons. The following research questions are:1. What are the students' views on menstruation?2. How do the students perceive the impact of menstruation on their participation in physicaleducation?3. How do the students perceive the way teachers address and adapt the teaching in relation tomenstruation? Theory and Method: A semi-structured qualitative interview method was applied, involvingseven menstruating women in high school. The study draws inspiration from hermeneutic andphenomenological analysis. Data processing is based on a thematic analysis from which threecategories emerge. The study utilizes curriculum theory. Results: The results show that the students have different views on menstruation, bothpositive and negative. These views are shaped by factors such as knowledge and normssurrounding menstruation, as well as their mental and social well-being during menstruation.Knowledge and experience of both students and teachers are found to be very importantduring menstruation, as communication and management by teachers are considered crucialfor student’s participation. The results also show that the students have a positive view onparticipation during menstruation, where the students experience reduced pain and improvedwell-being during and after physical education. Despite this, students do not participateextensively in the subject of physical education and health during menstruation. Conclusion: The study shows that the students have different views on menstruation and thatit affects them in various ways both positively and negatively, which is consistent withprevious research. The students experience that movement during menstruation is positive.However, it turns out that the students do not participate in physical education duringmenstruation. This seems to be due to the norm about menstruation that exists in the school,where prejudices and silencing occur, which the students feel that teachers avoid in theircommunication and interaction with the students.