The Pad Project
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Free a Period:
Break the menstruation taboo
Free a Period is an installation that collaborated with The Pad Project. We aim to let the users experience how the girl feels when they are facing different menstruation taboos. The users will know the backgrounds and solutions in the game. In the end, they will help the girl to emancipate from taboo by helping them to be financially independent.
For further actions, the user can keep on following The Pad Project and get involved with it.
BACKGROUND
In many traditional religions, menstruation is a taboo. The women cannot touch other people, cattle, and plants otherwise it is believed that they will cause people, livestock and crops to die. They are even banished to a “menstruation hut” for extension of their periods. Each year, at least one or two women died in the huts due to lack of health care, animal attacks, and smoke inhalation.
Although the women understand that the taboo is not true, they were afraid to break the taboo because the men control their life essential.
INSTALLATION
Hut-look-a-like Installation
The original hut has a small space. In this installation, it has created a similar feeling to the user to experience the life in the hut.
5 Sides Full Scale Screen
The user will experience the woman’s situation in first-person perspective. The 5 sides full scale screen will provide a virtual reality environment to the user, so to help them gaining empathy.
Automatic Video Player Sensor
It has a touch sensor under the ground. When the user walks into the huts, the video will play automatically.
Red Dot Decoration
A hint for the user to guess what happened in the hut. Therefore, they would not feel too sudden when facing the topic. Also, it can attract them to walk in.
EXPERIENCE FLOW
Experience Taboo 1
User is required to stay at the hut for 12 days. They can touch the screen to ask for leaving. However, people from the outside will tell her that it is not allowed.
Experience Taboo 2
User is listening to a myth about how menstruating woman will pollute the livestock and crop. User needs to touch the object to experience the myth.
Experience Taboo 3
User misses her family because they have not met for a long time. User needs to look at her father and brother to see their reactions.
Understanding Real Situation
User will watch a short video about the menstruation taboo in a developing country. After they know that the game is a real story and unacceptable, they can change the ending of the story.
Knowing the Solutions
After the user decided to make a change of the story, it will play the animation about The Pad Project. It will show how does this project help the girl change their life.
Keep on Following The Pad Project
User are required to scan the QR code to break the hut (meaning: break the taboo). After scanning the QR code, it will link to The Pad Project website. They can get more information and follow the project.