Period is political
Monday 13th May - 01:00 to 01:50 PM
Presentation language: German
In the presentation "Menstruation - and everyone runs away. But why actually?" the mysterious period, also known as 'strawberry week' or 'visit from Aunt Rosa,' is explored. Despite about a quarter of the world's population menstruating, it remains a taboo subject with far-reaching consequences for the environment, economy, and gender equality.
"Periods are political," says Franka Frei in her eponymous book, the "Manifesto against the Taboo of Menstruation" (published in 2020). The menstrual activist discusses culture and history, religion and sciences, gender medicine, and why menstrual products should be freely available in public toilets. Because if one thing is clear: when it comes to periods, it's about much more than "just a little blood."
This event will take place online
About the Person
Franka Frei, born in Cologne in 1995 and raised in Salzburg, Austria, is a journalist, activist, and author. Since completing her bachelor's degree in Applied Media and the sudden viral success of her thesis, she has been known as a menstrual activist, sometimes appearing in the media accompanied by a human-sized tampon costume, advocating for sexual health and reproductive rights.
In 2019, her popular science book "Periode ist politisch. Ein Manifest gegen das Menstruationstabu" was published (released in 2020 by Heyne Hardcore). In March 2021, her debut novel "Krötensex" was released by Heyne, followed by the popular science book "Überfällig. Warum Verhütung auch Männersache ist" by Goldmann Verlag in 2023.
In addition to her work as a speaker in Germany and abroad, Franka Frei works as a freelance journalist. Her contributions appear, among others, on Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Funk, WDR Cosmo, 1 Live, and Neues Deutschland. Further audio, print, and video interviews with Franka Frei can be found in media outlets such as Deutschlandfunk, Tagesspiegel, Zeit Online, Zeit Campus, zett, rnd, Neon, and Stern, as well as various TV media. Since 2021, Franka Frei has been hosting the podcast "Tabufrei" in cooperation with Essity.
Franka Frei is studying Gender Studies at Humboldt University in Berlin (M.A.) and works alongside the Berlin-based association "Periodensystem e.V." to combat period poverty. Since 2023, she has been a founding member and German spokesperson for the "European Network for Shared Contraception," aiming to negotiate contraception issues in a gender- and environmentally-friendly manner, and she works as a political advisor.