Menstrual cycle tracking apps have been around since the mid-2010s. They allow women and menstruating people to monitor their menstrual cycles and receive predictions about their periods, ovulation, fertility, and more. The data collected can be used for scientific research projects, but in some countries or depending on the app, this data can also be commercially exploited or even seized by authorities to identify abortions. In today’s political context, where some governments and parties openly promote masculinist ideologies, how can we rethink the use of these technologies?

This workshop is hosted by a queer activist and sociologist who studies menstrual cycle tracking apps in Europe. I’ll begin by presenting findings from user-based research aimed at understanding how people make sense of their data (its intimate nature and related security concerns). I will also highlight the issues connected to sexuality education and digital media literacy.

My goal is to create a space for collective reflection, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and skill sets to imagine what a queer and feminist approach to these technologies could look like.