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]
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 on 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 women's and gender minorities' own comfort.[6]
Products
Free bleeding underwear, a result of the free bleeding movement, has received media attention.[7] These products are in response to the use of tampons.[8]
References
- "Free bleeding is a call to action". helloclue.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- Bereznak, Alyssa (2016-09-16). "Silicon Valley's Quest to Make Periods Cool".
- Moss, Gabrielle. "What Is Free Bleeding, Exactly?". Retrieved 2018-12-03.
- "Latest Health News - Current Health News Stories, Natural Health & Fitness News Articles - Zee News". 2015-08-20.
- "'Free bleeding' and the stupidly clever feminists who fell for it". 2015-08-15.
- "Kiran Gandhi discusses free-bleeding while running the London Marathon, and using the period as protest". 2015-08-11.
- "I Tried Free Bleeding Into Period Panties and This Is What Happened". 2016-04-07.
- "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]
