Free Tampons Are Great, But What We Really Need Is Menstrual Justice
March 12, 2025
In this op-ed, Elevate Us founder Manju Bangalore explores the need for menstrual justice during Women’s History Month and beyond.
In 2019, 14-year-old Jackline Chepngeno, died by suicide after being shamed for a period stain at school in Kenya. That same year, a 21-year-old Nepali woman, Parwati Bogati, died from suffocation after being banished to a hut during her period.
Menstrual injustice is pervasive across the world — including here in the United States. Lack of access to period education anywhere, especially about toxic shock syndrome, can lead to fatal complications. Lack of access to period products can lead to infections, and with nearly 1 in 4 American teens reporting that they can’t afford or don’t have access to period products, period poverty remains a critical issue here in the U.S.
When teens don’t have access to menstrual products, they are more likely to miss school or lack concentration and participation in class, which can lead to suspension or expulsion in extreme cases. For marginalized people, the impacts of menstrual injustice are magnified. Disabled menstruators face heightened challenges — from public restroom inaccessibility, to menstrual product design limitations, to medical ableism. Trans and nonbinary menstruators often face the impossible choice between affirming their identity and accessing menstrual products in public restrooms, all while contending with the increasing erosion of LGBTQ+ protections.
And, it extends beyond just the act of menstruation. When teens don’t have access to comprehensive health education, they are more at risk for pregnancy at a younger age — increasing the risk of maternal mortality. For Black and Hispanic menstruators, this risk is exacerbated.
Menstrual equity, or equitable access to menstrual products, should be an inherent right for all menstruators. But I believe we need to go a step further. We must address the root causes of why menstruators don’t have access to basic necessities in the first place. That’s why we need menstrual freedom.
Menstrual freedom, a term coined by our team at Elevate Us (formerly Operation Period), advocates for the abolition of any system or barrier that prevents someone from experiencing their period with dignity. Menstrual freedom calls on us to center the most marginalized among us, and it demands that we fight for systemic change — because menstrual equity is the floor, not the ceiling.
Since founding Elevate Us in 2015, my mission has been to help create a world that fights for, protects, and cares for menstruators. We have distributed hundreds of thousands of products to those in need; held more than 75 events in collaboration with partners to connect with and engage our communities; named the month of May as International Period Month; advocated at the local, state, and federal level; and worked to educate thousands of young people on their bodies and their rights. In 2023, we built out the Youth Institute for Gender Justice to train and equip the next generation of leaders with the knowledge and resources they need to fight for menstrual freedom in their communities. We’re also working on a short film with Unincarcerated Productions to bring awareness to the injustices incarcerated menstruators face.
So, what do I believe menstrual freedom looks like for us?
It’s a world where menstruation isn’t a barrier to anyone’s education, health, or sense of self. It’s a world where menstrual products are as freely available as toilet paper in every public restroom. It’s a world where education systems provide comprehensive, inclusive menstrual health education, free from stigma and misinformation. It means designing menstrual products and facilities that cater to the diverse needs of all menstruators and ensuring that no one is excluded due to inaccessibility. It means creating policies and protections that affirm the identities of trans and nonbinary menstruators, ensuring they feel safe and supported in every space.
At its core, menstrual freedom demands that we dismantle systems of oppression that uphold menstrual injustice. It envisions equitable healthcare access, where menstruators receive unbiased, compassionate care, regardless of their background, identity, incarceration status, or socioeconomic status. It calls for an end to the shame that perpetuates silence and exclusion.
Menstrual freedom is a future where menstruators can participate fully in their communities without fear, shame, or barriers. It’s a collective commitment to equity, justice, and dignity. With a new Presidential administration that’s actively restricting certain protections for women, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and others, it is even more urgent that we fight for and prioritize menstrual freedom for all. And young people must lead this movement because it is our future at stake.
Now more than ever, it’s time to create a world where menstruation holds no one back.