Say no to shame, waste, inequality—and leaks! Menstrual activism in the market for alternative period products

Figures & data

Table 1. The goals, strategies, and tactics of menstrual activism.

Goal	Strategies	Tactics
Breaking menstrual taboos	Increasing public discussions about menstruation	Public events and interventions Publishing on menstruation (zines, books, videos, art)
	Increasing private discussions about menstruation	Celebrating menarche Menstrual courses
	Increasing contact with one’s own blood	Free bleeding, using alternative products, menstrual extraction
Ensuring equitable access to products, facilities, and information	Demanding tax reforms/exemptions for menstrual products
	Advocating free-for-all menstrual products (in particular students, homeless and incarcerated)	Distributing products to less well-off Pressing changes in laws
	Advocating access to safe toilet facilities	Unisex bathrooms Toilets and sewage systems in schools in Majority World
	Demanding accurate and inclusive education	Early education Non gender-based menstrual education
	Advocating education in healthcare	Inclusive language
Lessening the strain on environment	Advocating use of DIY-products	Holding workshops
	Advocating use of organic products	Blogs and vlogs
	Advocating use of reusable commercial products	Education on options
	Advocating use of products with no plastic	Education on consequences of plastics in disposables
Lessening consumerism and the power of corporations	Advocating use of DIY-products	Posting on social media
	Advocating use of alternative products produced by small companies	Education on product options in schools
	Advocating free bleeding
Advocating safe products and safe use	Demanding more research and regulation	Questioning use of non-organic cotton and rayon Questioning bleaching processes Education and research on sex specific conditions
	Demanding law reforms
	Demanding comprehensive labelling
	Advocating use of organic products
Breaking norms and gender-based oppression	Advocating inclusive language Advocating more diversity in portraying menstruators	“Not all women menstruate, not only women menstruate” From feminine hygiene to period products
	Demanding tax reforms/exemptions for menstrual products