Series - FotoSlovo 2026 - Category « Trip / Essay »

Menstruation is a physiological process affecting people of reproductive age with female reproductive systems. Despite being a universal experience—one that influences many aspects of life, from psycho-physical well-being to sexual and reproductive health, from education and work to spiritual life—it remains surrounded by taboos, stigma, and superstitions rooted in mythology, religion, medicine, and culture. These prejudices have tangible consequences, turning menstruation into an invisible and underestimated issue.

Out for Blood documents one of the most extreme consequences of this reality in India: period poverty, defined as limited or nonexistent access to safe menstrual products, adequate sanitation facilities, and menstrual education.

Among the approximately 355 million women of reproductive age in India, only 45% are aware of menstruation before menarche. Around 50% of girls aged 15–24 still rely on cloths—a non-hygienic practice that increases the risk of infections and disease—while 24% drop out of school after menarche due to inadequate sanitation facilities.

Through voices from Hindu, Muslim, and Adivasi communities, the project addresses inequality, violence, taboos, sustainability, and access to healthcare. Beyond a public health issue, menstruation also reflects systems of social control. Out for Blood seeks to foster awareness and self-determination, reclaiming the body as a site of knowledge, resistance, and liberation.