Welcome to the rePROFilm Periodical – featuring a mission-aligned short film of the month and accompanying podcast conversation. The Periodical is generously underwritten so that our monthly curation is FREE and available for anyone to take part in.

Sign up via email or check in on the 15th of each month for the latest volume, film, conversation, and links to organizations we’re loving and things we’re learning about.

Vol. 4:
THE LAST WORD ON PERIODS.

About 50% of the population will have, currently has, or once had a menstrual cycle. It’s simply a basic bodily function for lots of us. Until recently, we didn’t talk about it a lot, though, and we certainly didn’t watch movies about that time of the month.

We’re thrilled that’s all changing. Films like this month’s 12-minute pick, “A Period Piece” center menstruation in on-screen storytelling.

Admittedly, we have a ways to go: period taboos are still a thing, and too many people suffer from “period poverty” and lack of access to products. See below for stories about how members of Gen Z are leading the way on these issues.

With curiosity & care,
With openness & inspiration,

~ xo Team rePRO

A PERIOD PIECE
Directed by Shuchi Talati (12 min)

Consider this your official reminder that you still have two weeks to watch “A Period Piece,” an awkward, human and ultimately kind of sexy story about period sex. When they stain a spotless couch mid-coitus, tensions between Geetha and Vehd escalate one overly warm afternoon. We love that this portrayal of South Asians skips tired cultural cliches, and we’re looking forward to following Talati’s next moves.

PERIODICAL PODCAST EPISODE 4: A PERIOD PIECE

with special guest Shuchi Talati, hosted by Asha Dahya

Have you heard the most recent Periodical podcast? Catch the conversation between Asha Dahya and Shuchi Talati, director of “A Period Piece,” anywhere you listen to podcasts. Bonus: Talati teases her upcoming feature film, a coming-of-age story set in a girls’ school in India.

Full Transcript

“I want space for (South Asians) to tell stories that are kind of universal, because I think that only having a limited kind of narrative … robs us of our full scope of humanity.”

Shuchi Talati is originally from India and her work challenges dominant narratives around gender, sexuality, race and South Asian identity. Shuchi is also a writer / producer for documentaries. Recent credits include We Are: Brooklyn Saints for Netflix, and Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas for HBO, where one of Shuchi’s episodes was nominated for a GLAAD award.

STUDENT EFFORTS BRING FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS TO CAMPUS

Student leaders are working to combat “period poverty” at colleges across the U.S., including Northern Arizona University, where free menstrual products will be distributed in 184 gender-neutral bathrooms. The administration has allotted $50,000 annually for product and upkeep. Gen Z, we really do <3 you.

(Arizona Daily Sun)

MUSICIAN FREDDIE LEWIS ON DEALING WITH PERIODS AS A TRANS MAN

Trans men who menstruate face a bonus set of challenges, both emotional and practical (e.g., there’s no designated place to dispose of pads in a men’s room). “Cis people tend to forget when they’re talking about periods that there are actually a lot of trans men, non-binary and trans-masculine people who also bleed.”

(BBC News)

The current state of the tampon tax—and how we’re going to eliminate it

Classifying tampons and pads as luxury products has tax implications, too. “Because of this tax, [menstruators] in the United States are estimated to spend an additional $150 million per year on menstrual products.” Click through to find out the status of tampon taxation on your state.

(Marie Claire)

Opinion: In prison, having your period can put your life in danger

Nearly a quarter million women are imprisoned in the U.S., and many do not have reliable access to basic hygiene products. This makes incarcerated women susceptible to both health problems and coercion. “Menstrual equity is a human right,” writes epidemiologist and activist Gabrielle A. Perry. “Incarcerated women’s lack of access to menstrual products is a public health and humanitarian crisis.”

(Washington Post)

Moms are furious that ‘Turning Red’ introduces periods to their sons

In Pixar’s recent feature “Turning Red,” a giant panda serves as a metaphor for puberty. The movie references menstruation and includes period products in one scene, which has certain parents seeing red.

(MEL Magazine)

This period company hid tampons and pads inside cereal boxes to point out how inaccessible period products are

Federal anti-poverty programs WIC and SNAP (AKA food stamps) don’t cover tampons and pads, which is partly why 25% of menstruating teenagers in the U.S. don’t have access to period products. A marketing firm underlined this problem with “Loop Holes,” a fictional breakfast cereal that comes with tampons and pads in every box. We’re ready to put these on our grocery lists, but we’ll settle for letting our representatives in Washington know that tampons and pads should not be classified as luxury products.

(BuzzFeed)

MENSTRUATION GETS A GEN Z MAKEOVER

At the crossroads of period positivity and sustainability, young people are leading a revolution in how to manage our menses. “Young people want alternatives to disposable tampons and pads — and they’re not embarrassed to talk about it.”

(New York Times)

Period.org

PERIOD. is a youth-fueled nonprofit that strives to eradicate period poverty and stigma through service, education, and advocacy. Through the distribution of menstrual products, promotion of youth leadership, and championing of menstrual equity in policy, PERIOD. aims to center those disproportionately affected by period poverty and support local efforts for menstrual equity.

TAKE ACTION

The Pad Project

The Pad Project takes a community-based approach to closing the menstrual product gap worldwide. We’re partial to this org in part because it began with a short film, “Period. End of Sentence.,” which won an Oscar in 2019.

TAKE ACTION

Black-led menstrual equity organizations

Organizers across the U.S. and the world are working to close the the horrifying and utterly unnecessary period product gap. There might be one serving your area — try googling “menstrual equity [city/state name]” and see what comes up. If you’re looking for an organization to support, this is a handy list of Black-led initiatives.

TAKE ACTION