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The 2017 ‘Sanitary Pad Incident’ and Thereafter : Focusing on the Aspects of Women’s Health Rights Movement

  • Journal of Human Rights Studies
  • Abbr : JHRS
  • 2019, 2(2), pp.47-91
  • DOI : 10.22976/JHRS.2019.2.2.47
  • Publisher : Korean Association of Human Rights Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Law > Law of Special Parts > Human Rights / International Human Rights Law
  • Received : October 31, 2019
  • Accepted : December 18, 2019
  • Published : December 31, 2019

Keel Jimin 1 Kim Hyeji 1 Chio Yeryeng 1 Han Jiwoo 1 Lee Nuri 1

1서울대학교

ABSTRACT

The Sanitary Pad incident outbroke in August of 2017,concerning the over-the-limit toxicity of sanitary pads beingdistributed in South Korea. Following the broadcasts that reportedovert levels of toxic chemicals and harmful substances found inmultiple sanitary pads, women have actively spoke out for changes,both online and offline. The sanitary pad incident is appreciated asa woman’s rights movement that brought improvement in socialperception and treatment of women’s menstrual rights, and isacknowledged alongside many online feminist movements activatedthrough the “Feminism Reboot.” This study sheds light on theprocess of the movement and the changes women’s practices haveelicited with in-depth interviews and comprehensive analysis ononline SNS data regarding the issue. The women shared theirexperiences and sentiments, urged the companies and governmentfor fundamental redressing of the matter, and demanded that allingredients be labeled out. There were certain shortcomings, however. These movements lacked the inner hub to constantlyrefuel the force of social attention, and the problem of safetyremains unsolved to this day. Nevertheless, the counter-movement tothe Sanitary Pad incident is evaluated to have towed thelegalization of all-ingredients-specification on sanitary pads. It alsohelped to establish a more positive view on women’s body thatmenstruates, as well as boost correlated issues on women’s rights tohealth. The sanitary pad incident is recognized as a milestone inKorean menstrual movement, and further studies shall widen thescope of its discussion up to the institutional establishment ofwomen’s menstrual rights.

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