Ecofeminism and menstruation: menstrual practices with reusable menstrual products among Israeli women

Abstract

Menstruators perceive and experience their menstruation in diverse ways, influencing their choice of menstrual products and impacting both body literacy and the environment. This article investigates Israeli menstruators who use reusable menstrual products (RMPs), a practice viewed through the lens of ecofeminism, within the context of menstrual concealment culture and its role in perpetuating oppression. This article's objective is to reveal the extent of this ecofeminist practice and to understand the motivations and choices behind it as well as the meaning of menstruation for Israeli RMP users. An analysis of forty semi-structured interviews revealed that the participants exercise cognitive, emotional and sociocultural agency. Environmental and physical factors strongly motivated participants to use RMPs, producing predominantly positive experiences. The use of RMPs promotes novel perceptions and management strategies for menstruation, facilitating acceptance of menstrual blood and challenging prevalent narratives of shame and pollution. Finally, many participants expressed a desire to engage in legitimised conversations about menstruation and to resist the dominant discourse. This highlights the transformative potential of the ecofeminist practice of using RMPs, which can disrupt capitalist-consumer culture, challenge menstrual stigma and foster sustainable alternatives. The present study promotes knowledge and equality in education about menstrual management, concealment, products, stigma and environmental factors.