From Convenience to Hazard: A Short History of the Emergence of the Menstrual Activism Movement, 1971–1992

Abstract

In this article, I explore the early history of contemporary menstrual activism in the United States by looking through the lens of the first seven editions of the feminist women's health classic, Our Bodies, Ourselves (OBOS). This analysis illustrates the development of a critical menstrual consciousness as three key phases of the emerging movement, offersa representation of the dynamic nature of feminist health consciousness, and highlights the importance of linking current activism to its past.

I thank Peggy Stubbs, Phyllis Mansfield, and both anonymous reviewers for their substantive feedback and careful editing, as well as Ann Blum, whose historical expertise sharpened my argument