For too long, menstruation has been treated as a private burden rather than a biological reality. From the playground to the boardroom, the silence surrounding periods has fostered a culture of stigma and unnecessary shame.

In the second edition of About Bloody Time: The Menstrual Revolution We Have to Have, co-authors Jane Bennett and Karen Pickering—supported by the Victorian Women’s Trust—offer a deep dive into why these taboos persist and how we can finally dismantle them.

Much-Needed Progress

When the first edition was released, we were only just beginning to see menstrual health treated as a serious public policy issue. This new edition reflects a landscape that has shifted significantly thanks to tireless advocacy. Since the original research was published, we’ve seen landmark victories including:

• Menstrual Policies in Workplaces: Created by the Victorian Women’s Trust in 2017 and adapted by external organisations and businesses

• The Removal of the “Tampon Tax”: In 2019, Australia finally scrapped the 10% GST on menstrual products, ending a decades-long campaign to stop taxing essential health items as “luxury goods.”

• Free Products in Schools: Victoria led the way by becoming the first state to provide free pads and tampons in all government schools, ensuring that no student’s education is hindered by their period.

• The Victorian Inquiry into Women’s Pain: Most recently, the state government launched a watershed inquiry to address the “gender pain gap,” acknowledging that conditions like endometriosis and debilitating menstrual pain have been dismissed by the medical system for far too long.

A Data-Driven Call to Action

The foundation of this book lies in the lived experiences of thousands of women and girls. Their shared accounts reveal a sobering reality: even with policy wins, the cultural weight of shame remains. The research shows that many still view their bodies through a prism of negativity, a sentiment that begins in puberty and often continues through menopause.

Moving Beyond the Taboo

This isn’t just a critique; it’s an exploration of what happens when we reclaim the narrative. By examining the roots of the menstrual taboo—where it exists and why it remains so resilient—Bennett and Pickering provide an updated call to action.

The book makes a compelling case: unlocking gender equality is impossible without first addressing the menstrual taboo. It is an essential read for anyone committed to social justice and the health of women and girls. The time for whispering is over. If we want to achieve true equality, we must start by changing how we talk about our bodies.