For decades, menstruation has been treated as a taboo subject in mainstream media—a topic to be whispered about or avoided entirely. But change is happening. In recent years, we’ve seen a powerful shift toward normalizing and celebrating menstruation, with bold portrayals and open conversations challenging the outdated stigma.
The representation of menstruation in media is finally evolving, and it’s an exciting time to reflect on how far we’ve come—and where we still need to go.
Personally, I can remember a time when periods were either joked about or ignored entirely. Blue liquid in sanitary pad ads, a hushed topic across mixed gender circles, and coded language like “that time of the month” all contributed to a culture of shame and secrecy. For many of us, this silence reinforced the idea that menstruation was something to hide, not embrace.
But now, media is taking steps to switch up these outdated narratives. Films and TV shows are starting to include realistic representation of periods and how they apart of everyday life, and brands are creating empowering campaigns that feature real conversations and imagery. This new wave of representation is empowering for women and people who menstruate—it’s a sign that we’re finally being seen and heard.
As highlighted in the thought-provoking article linked above, on the evolution of menstruation in media, the change isn’t just about representation—it’s about rewriting the story entirely. Instead of treating menstruation as a burden or an embarrassment, these new narratives focus on education and pride. Social media has been a game-changer too, with influencers and activists using their platforms to normalise periods and break down misconceptions. It’s heartening to see menstruation being embraced as a symbol of health, strength, and even celebration.
I particularly found the following interesting from the article Evana Periods published: A 2023 ActionAid poll found that in the UK, 22% of young women and people who menstruate (aged 18-24) felt embarrassed during their period, which is a significant increase from 8% in 2022. Of those respondents, 30% said they felt ashamed because people would see them taking period products to the toilet. A further 58% said it was because of fear of leaking onto their clothes. The final 12% of respondents said their embarrassment stemmed from jokes made about their period by a partner, friends, colleagues or parents.
The article also touches on the film Carrie, which came out in the seventies, showing severe period pain, which could connotate to this being the ‘norm’ (which we know that severe pain shouldn’t be the norm).
For me as a Mum of two, I struggled to get my periods back within the ‘normal’ timeframe after having both my babies. I found that there was so much information online about missing periods, which was great, and even male GPs were quick to understand the correct route of care for me when I was concerned.
Did I feel comfortable talking to everyone about it? Yes and no. It still wasn’t something I wanted to bring up at the dinner table with friends husbands there, but across female circles, it felt very, very normal. Perhaps in the very near future, us women will feel more comfortable sharing these conversations with men and women alike.
My ‘problem’ also shouldn’t be classed as normal, and the concern that was surrounded by this matter very much reflected this.
The journey isn’t over, I don’t feel when it comes to normalising periods and having open conversations. But the progress is definitely there. By continuing to amplify these conversations and embracing authentic stories, we can help ensure that menstruation becomes a normalised, celebrated part of life. And that is not just in the media, but in every corner of society.
Leave a Reply