It’s a #PeriodParty… And You’re Invited

By Lauren Burke

Tucked into a cozy, bright basement in Williamsburg, a crowd of women from across New York City sit facing a single mic stand.

The wall behind the mic is pure white save a single string of letters.

It reads, “PERIOD PARTY.”

These women came to see a lineup of poets and performers talk about periods, a topic that despite being age-old remains an elusive taboo on the public stage. As the New York Times reported, the performers delivered, dishing on everything from period leak horror stories to declarations of love for period sex.

Hosted by New Woman Space and held in support of Menstrual Hygiene Day,

Period Party’s call for women to share their menstrual experiences is part of a larger movement to destigmatize the shared female experience that is menstruation.

Woman all across the creative spheres are finding ways to join in on the #PeriodParty spirit, bringing menses out of the darkness and women’s experiences into the light.

You might remember a particular portrait of President Donald Trump that went viral in 2015. The reason for its fame? It was created entirely with period blood. Artist Sarah Levy made the piece in protest of Trump’s now infamous comment that Fox News host Megyn Kelly must have had “blood coming out of her wherever” because of the tough questions she asked him as presidential debate moderator. The portrait, which rose as a symbol against a series of misogynistic comments made by the president and helped to continue the women’s rights conversation, is now housed in Dresden’s Bundeswehr Museum of Military History.

Female comedians have also been joining in on the fun. Michelle Wolf, who skyrocketed to the national stage after delivering a scathing speech at the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner, makes the following quip about periods, “I think if all men got periods, we’d have a three-week work month.” Her sentiment is echoed by fellow funnies from women of the Saturday Night Live cast and even menstrual health company Hello Flo.

For others, participation in the #PeriodParty spirit comes in the form of charitable donations.

Non-profits across the country have been hosting events where attendees are asked to bring a donation of pads, tampons, or other menstrual products. Throughout the night, attendees assemble menstrual care packages for women in need while sipping wine, sharing stories, and listening to music. A #PeriodParty for the greater good.

Regardless of the medium of expression, the message of the #PeriodParty spirit remains the same: it’s high time we make periods a normal—and accessible—thing. Because, well, having periods is pretty damn normal.