Rayka Zehtabchi | Netflix, 2018 | Watch
Set 60 km away from Delhi, this Oscar-winning documentary's strength lies in its successful portrayal of the impact of empowering women with knowledge and having them take charge of their own menstrual hygiene. Notably, it includes the contribution of India's "Menstrual Man," Arunachalam Muruganantham, whose machines enable rural women to earn a livelihood by manufacturing low-cost sanitary napkins for their communities.
Gloria Steinem | Ms. Magazine, 1978 | Article
Written in 1978, this humorous essay remains just as relevant as ever. Gloria Steinem puts into perspective how historical gender norms and the patriarchy have shaped our current perception of menstruation. Even more importantly, she reshapes that perception by absurdly describing just how easy it can be to flip the switch — being open about periods, celebrating them even.
| Explore
Available in Hindi, English, Spanish, Bulgarian, Russian and 11 regional Indian languages, Menstrupedia is an illustrated comic book that introduces girls — and boys! — to menstruation through stories and relatable characters. Accessible and engaging, it serves as an educational tool for older people, educators and parents, too.
Jennifer Weiss-Wolf | Arcade, 2019 | Book
Periods Gone Public offers a broad yet in-depth pool of knowledge exploring the severe effects of the lack of menstruation-linked information, access and policies on different groups, such as the homeless, LGBTQ+ identities and those in prison. Jennifer Weiss-Wolf suggests ways that ordinary people like you and me can help improve menstrual hygiene management in their local communities.
Carmen Fishwick | The Guardian, 2015 | Article
Social stigma related to reproductive health affects the medical field as well — keeping women from being diagnosed accurately for the real problems they suffer, such as endometriosis, PCOS, PMDD, anaemia due to periods, for years and years. This article sheds light on the experiences of several women, once again making the case for healthier and open discourse about menstrual and reproductive health.
Human Rights Watch, 2017 | Explore
This guide, developed by Human Rights Watch, views menstrual health and hygiene from the lens of international human rights guidelines. It's a great starting point to understanding the intersection between menstrual health and the fundamental rights to health, education, work, dignity and equality.
Period Media, 2020 | Explore
Period! is an independent online magazine dedicated to positive and informative writing on the menstrual cycle. It's a comprehensive resource with fact-based articles about menstrual disorders as well as features of periods in art and culture! Discover fun ways to foster period positivity among children (see the series "Playful Period Pedagogy") and find opportunities to share your own stories.
Tarini Pathak, Tanvi Vijh, Ananya Grover and Satyam Mehta | Book
Of pad companies and menstrual products, of societal norms and archaic taboos — It's Code Red!? is a collection of period positive poetry, artwork, letters and photographs by students in India.
