The Game of the Uterus
By: Amy Kumar, Jamie Hsu, Julia Cheng, Tiffany Jackson, Yuqing Huang
Illuminating the countless injustices that are experienced by those who menstruate.
We seek to dispel the myth that there are a lot of choices and free will when it comes to deciding how to menstruate and that the experience is safe and equitable for all. Our game immerses players into the lives of these individuals and the adversities that challenge the process and maintenance of menstruation. While there are multiple legislative measures that work to control, limit and conceal menstruation, there remains a research gap regarding the health effects that come with using some menstrual products. The Game of Uterus addresses the cultural, biological, political and social factors that impact the way an individual proceeds with menstruation. By playing this game, players will be able to experience these varying implications and form a better understanding of the difficulty and danger that comes with menstruating in a society that heavily stigmatizes this natural bodily function.
Throughout the game players will encounter challenges and success with each turn. While playing The Game of Uterus, players will come to understand that with the use of most menstrual products comes exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The term EDC has a number of varying definitions, and in combining definitions from The Endocrine Society, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the World Health Organization, EDCs can be defined as natural and man-made chemicals that interact with the body’s natural hormone processes and can mimic, interfere with, or block them; these chemicals can be found in a variety of sources and have the potential to negatively impact the environment and human body. Examples of EDCs are BPA and phthalates (found in plastics), parabens (used as an artificial preservative in cosmetics), and dioxins and furans (byproducts of the bleaching process for tampons, pads and liners). Exposure to EDCs is linked to hormone imbalance, immune system disruption, fertility issues, and certain cancers.
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