Hiya Vs. Malasakit: Navigating Social Hesitation in the Presence of Menstrual Taboos

Abstract

This study examined bystander responses and intervention behaviors when witnessing a female decoy with a visible menstrual stain in a public setting. Utilizing a naturalistic field observation design, the researchers investigated how the taboo nature of menstrual stains influences a bystander's willingness to intervene, their hesitation, their response time, and their chosen mode of assistance. A total of 10 naturally observed public bystanders (N = 10) participated across various community locations. Bystander demographic characteristics—specifically age, sex, and generational group—were recorded during post-observation debriefing to analyze potential differences in helping behavior. To examine the demographic association between bystander sex (male, female) and generational group (Gen X, Millennial, Gen Z), a 2 x 3 Fisher Exact Probability Test was performed. The statistical analysis revealed a non-directional, two-tailed probability value of p = 0.60 Based on these specific statistical findings, the null hypothesis could not be rejected, leading to the main conclusion that there is no significant demographic relationship or association among the observed sample. Ultimately, the study highlights the complexity of public helping behaviors and social discomfort surrounding highly taboo bodily experiences.