Empower

Five major components define a slum household according to UN Habitat: lack of access to an improved water source, lack of access to improved sanitation facilities, lack of sufficient living area, lack of housing durability, and lack of security of tenure.

While surveying women about their menstrual management practices in Bengaluru, India, I was surprised to learn that more than 80 percent of the respondents were concerned about their environmental footprint from using disposable sanitary napkins.

I am studying the potential of technology to improve women’s healthcare as part of my Masters’ thesis at The Fletcher School, Tufts University, and I am supported by the Institute for Global Leadership in this endeavor.

As someone who comes from a technologically literate generation, sometimes it is difficult for me to imagine what it might be like to not know how to use a cell phone. These thoughts are then tempered when I remember how difficult it is for me to pick up an Android when I am so used to the touch of an iPhone.