5 Favorite Moments of the Menstrual Movement
by Charlotte Amrouche
Did you know that it's Menstrual May? For the last seven years, Menstrual Hygiene Day has been celebrated on 28 May. This day aims to break the silence, raise awareness, and change negative social norms surrounding menstrual health and hygiene.
Soon after the launch of Menstrual Hygiene Day, it became clear that we needed more than a day to celebrate and raise awareness about the menstrual cycle, therefore Menstrual May was born.
Throwback to 2015
There have been many awe-inspiring moments of the menstrual movement since the launch of Menstrual Hygiene Day in 2013. You might be familiar with the amazing moment when Kiran Gandhi ran the 2015 London Marathon while free bleeding, or with the taboo-smashing photos of Rupi Kaur's blood-stained sheets that were removed from Instagram not once, but twice.
Kiran Ghandi free-bleeding while running the London Marathon, Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
To celebrate the waves made by the menstrual movement, here are our top five favourite moments of the last year:
1. The Period Emoji
In March 2019 the first-ever Period Emoji dropped on our phones! Thanks to the hard work of PLAN UK this blood droplet made talking about our periods even easier. No more need for 🍷 and 💃🏻 to announce the appearance of your period.
2. Study Confirms Safety and Effectiveness of Menstrual Cups
In July 2019 the first large scale systematic review of menstrual cups was published with great news for all menstrual cup users! The study found that menstrual cups are safe and effective to use, such good news for those who love their menstrual cups more than anything and for those who have cautiously been considering switching to this sustainable option. While you might not have time to read the full 18-page study, you might like to have a look at this quick review of it: https://putacupinit.com/menstrual-cup-study/.
3. Period. End of Sentence Wins an Oscar
And then a film about periods won an Oscar - yes you heard that right! Period. End of Sentence won the award for Best Documentary Short and shone a global spotlight on the difficulties that women and menstruators experience in rural India. Because "a period should end a sentence, not a girl's education". Best thing yet it's available to stream on Netflix or Youtube! Boom! Your Friday night plans are made.
4. Continued Abolishment of the Tampon Tax
With the growth of the menstrual movement, we have seen the Tampon Tax being cut around the world. In 2004, Kenya became the first country to repeal its tampon tax. Since then, we have seen countries around the world repeal the tax on menstrual products.
Little known fact: it took 18 years of activism in Australia to have period products re-classified as essential items! Each and every time a country has removed the tax on period products it has been a huge win in ensuring that people with periods are not being taxed for the "pleasure" of bleeding. Because really, tampons and other period products have been taxed at luxury rates around the world.
In the U.S. it was found that items from private jet parts to Viagra were not taxed, while period products were taxed. While in Germany period products were still considered "luxury goods" and taxed at the top rate of 19%, alongside other necessities such as truffles and oil paintings, until January 2020. The slashing of the tampon tax globally has been a huge win for the menstrual movement.
5. Allusion to Menstruation in Fashion
And then there were those fabulous times periods graced our red carpets and drag shows! From the time that Cardi B arrived at the 2019 Met Gala in what can only be described as an ode to menstrual blood, to this wonderful period gown Manila Luzon didn't get to wear on Drag Race (guess those period taboos are still going strong in some spaces). Literally taking her padding skills to a whole new level!
Behind all of these moments, and so many more we can't list here, is the consistent hard work of menstrual activists around the world. Those who won't stop bringing up the topic of period poverty at the dinner table, those who advocate for change at local and national levels, those who just won't stop bloody talking about periods.
To celebrate every one of these activists – because without you there would be no movement – here are some of our favourite bloody good banners spotted around the world. Keep up the bloody good work!
