Free bleeding

Free bleeding is the practice of menstruating without blocking or collecting the period flow. In recent years it has become a subject of public debate.[1]

A Dutch feminist practices free bleeding

History

The movement started in the 1970s as a reaction to toxic shock syndrome, a rare and sometimes fatal condition that can be caused when bacteria grow in tampons worn to absorb menstrual bleeding.[2] It regained popularity in 2014 as a result of a prank originating in the internet site 4chan.[3] Kiran Gandhi ran in the London Marathon, while free bleeding as a symbolic act to combat menstrual stigma around the world.[4][5] The movement focuses on a woman's and gender minorities own comfort.[6] The movement has also led to free products for women and gender minorities in school bathrooms.[7] More recently, efforts have been made to extend this movement to trans men who also menstruate as part of "menstrual equality". Some campuses are adding free menstrual products to men's bathrooms as well.[8]

Products

Free bleeding underwear are a result of the free bleeding movement that have received media attention.[9] These products are in response to the use of tampons.[10]

References
  1. "Free bleeding is a call to action". helloclue.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. Bereznak, Alyssa (2016-09-16). "Silicon Valley's Quest to Make Periods Cool".
  3. Moss, Gabrielle. "What Is Free Bleeding, Exactly?". Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  4. "Latest Health News - Current Health News Stories, Natural Health & Fitness News Articles - Zee News". 2015-08-20.
  5. "'Free bleeding' and the stupidly clever feminists who fell for it". 2015-08-15.
  6. "Kiran Gandhi discusses free-bleeding while running the London Marathon, and using the period as protest". 2015-08-11.
  7. "Free tampons and pads are coming to U.S. schools". Newsweek. 2016-09-06.
  8. Arriaga, A. (2017-05-16). "Tampons in Men's Rooms? It's Just a Small Part of "Menstrual Equality," Campus Activist Say". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  9. "I Tried Free Bleeding Into Period Panties and This Is What Happened". 2016-04-07.
  10. "What It's Really Like to Free-Bleed During Your Period". 2015-06-03.

Further reading
  • Schomburg, Teresa (2022-05-02). Dobrosavljević, Valentina (ed.). "Menstruation: Raus aus der Tabu-Ecke". WDR 5 (Radio broadcast). Neugier genügt (in German). Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Archived from the original on 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-05-02. [20:40]
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