What is Free Bleeding and Why Are We Afraid of It?

By Lottie Nicholls

For those who don’t know, the principle of free bleeding is simple: a person menstruates without using sanitary products (i.e. tampons, pads) to collect the flow. 

Some view free bleeding as a movement intended to normalise periods in society; others are forced to free bleed out of financial necessity and the inability to access sanitary products.

Those partaking in free bleeding intentionally claim that it’s a movement that aims to alter stigmas behind ‘period accidents’, protest extortionate prices of period products, and highlight environmental issues caused by disposable sanitary products. 

There is, however, much confusion around what it means to free bleed, and it is a subject under constant debate.

Brief history:

Free bleeding has been around for centuries. In ancient times, menstrual blood was considered magical; plenty of cultures still view it as sacred and powerful. In many parts of the world menstruation is a reason to celebrate, and there is a wide variety of ceremonies revolving around the act of free bleeding.

In other parts of the world, bleeders are sent into isolation for the duration of their period – it is seen as unsanitary and taboo.

In 17th-century England, people would often free bleed or use rags to soak up the blood. However, this may not have been a conscious decision then; it is unlikely that much else existed. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that issues of cleanliness arose, with sanitary belts being invented later.

Modern-day menstrual activism flourished in the 1970s, so free bleeding was hugely popular then. Today, free bleeding is promoted by artists, athletes and influencers across the globe.

If free bleeding has been around for years, then why are we so uncomfortable with it?

Modern society is still heavily governed by cis white men and is thus inherently misogynistic, transphobic and interlaced with systemic racism. 

Mainstream attitudes have consistently made women feel that their bodies and everything that happens to them shouldn’t be openly discussed, menstruation being a reoccurring taboo. Those that experience periods have constantly been told by men not to talk about menstruation for the sake of their own discomfort with the subject. Free bleeding draws focus to the very concept that men have been trying to hide away and shun for years. 

In the same vein, it brings attention to bleeders in the trans community, people who mainstream society has also consistently shunned. Bleeding can be uncomfortable enough as it is, but for those with gender dysphoria it can be even harder as people don’t always want to wear sanitary products that are only marketed toward women.

Society has repeatedly failed to acknowledge that women are not the only people who bleed. Failure to recognise the very existence of trans men and non-binary folk only bolsters micro-aggressive, transphobic behaviour.

Fear of being exposed to menstrual blood is often more present in modern-day Caucasian societies. The celebratory outlooks of other cultures regarding menstruation don’t fit into what white male leaders deem ‘acceptable’, thus feeding the idea that a fear of bleeding also has racist undertones.

Not dissimilarly, there is also discomfort and division within the bleeding community itself in regard to white feminism, hygiene and respect. Many who claim to be ‘feminists’ practising public free bleeding are often white, trans exclusionary radical feminists (TERFS), failing to recognise larger-scale issues within the feminist movement.

By centring feminism around menstruation, one not only fails to acknowledge that it is not exclusive to women but also demonstrates a lack of concern for prominent, worldwide issues, particularly surrounding the safety and wellbeing of people of colour. 

Many people (bleeders included) regard public free bleeding as unsanitary. Whilst society would do well to remember that the act of bleeding itself is natural, there is some debate as to how safe and civil public free bleeding is. Frequent disregard for those around them by arrogant free bleeders gives the movement a bad name and only enhances the discomfort our society has around the act. 

So, does free bleeding have a place in modern society?

We must remember that respect works both ways. Whilst some free bleeders describe the experience as liberating and freeing, others see it as an unsanitary invasion of space. Menstrual blood is a bodily fluid, and free bleeders need to be respectful of who they expose this to casually.

With regards to people reclaiming the action of bleeding – empowering themselves and not being shunned for their bodies – then yes, respectful free bleeding absolutely has a place in modern society.