Abstract

HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ, Claudia Ivonne  and  GARCIA-VILLANUEVA, Jorge. Building Explanatory Models on the Phenomenon of Menstruation: An Analysis from School Teachings. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Tecnol. [online]. 2024, n.56, pp.56-75.  Epub Sep 09, 2024. ISSN 0121-3814.  https://doi.org/10.17227/ted.num56-19212.

This article presents the results of a research study analyzing the explanatory constructions (both discursive and iconographic) of a group of 5th-grade students regarding the phenomenon of menstruation. The working paradigm is constructivist, and the design is exploratory with a qualitative approach. The instruments used were open-ended questionnaires that posed situations related to the phenomenon of menstruation. The intervention took place in a public elementary school located in the State of Mexico. The collected evidence shows that the scientific school models constructed by the children emphasize the knowledge learned in school related to secondary sexual characteristics, the parts that make up the female reproductive system (as mentioned in the natural science textbooks), and menstruation as a natural process that only happens to women. From this perspective learned in school, human sexuality lacks a scientific conceptualization, which leaves no room for understanding how different systems of the human body interrelate to account for the phenomenon, as well as the connection to pleasure, emotions, and desires. The suggestion for science classes is to find a dialogue between biological knowledge, biochemical functioning, and cultural constructions that help students generate a reflective awareness about the responsible exercise of sexual expression of sexualities, corporeality, and emotional manifestation.

Keywords : sexuality; biology; models; science; teaching.

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