10 Movies & TV Shows that Feature Periods Positively

What usually happens when a person gets a papercut? They bleed. Someone could watch the entirety of the Saw Series and see nothing but blood, but as soon as there's even the smallest mention of menstruation, it becomes too much. Periods are regular and healthy, just like any other cycle of the body, but are seen as taboo because they are associated with the vagina. The media often contributes to this narrative. Here is a list of shows and movies that display menstruation in a "positive" light to combat this. You can watch these shows and movies on various streaming sites such as Youtube, Netflix, and many other platforms.

Period. End of Sentence.

This documentary is only a little less than half-an-hour; it demonstrates a group of Indian women working hard to take the taboo out of menstruation while simultaneously creating sanitary pads to make nature easier. Although some would say that the powerful message portrayed was rushed and unfinished, the film successfully shows how normal a period is and explains how important it is to have access to information on menstruation. Find this documentary on Netflix, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi.

Padman

A comedic film based on the life of a Tamil Nadu based social activist, Arunachalam Muruganantham. Muruganantham revolutionized menstrual hygiene in India by creating an affordable sanitary napkin machine. This film is available on Netflix, directed by R. Balki.

20th Century Women

"If you ever want to have an adult relationship with a woman, like if you want to have sex with a woman's vagina, you need to be comfortable with the fact that the vagina menstruates," Abbie Porter (Greta Gerwig) firmly announces to the men in the room. This film is about three women living through a time of revolution and cultural change in Santa Barbara, California, assisting in the upbringing of an adolescent boy; an empowering film of femininity and strength. Watch this film on various platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, and others, directed by Mike Mills.

The Runaways

Based on the story of the 1970s rock band of all females, directed by Floria Sigismondi. An iconic scene to remember is when Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) gets her period and handles it rather quickly and efficiently by using toilet paper. This response portrays menstruation as a simple part of life. Watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms.

My Girl

In this 1990s film, we look at an 11-year-old girl's life as she grows up without a mother. When she first has her period, she learns from her father's friend about the wonders of a menstrual cycle. This moment is one of many informative yet comedic scenes in this film that display growing up in a female body. Watch this film almost anywhere, directed by Howard Zieff.

Black-ish

In an episode named "First And Last," Diane Johnson (Caila Marsai Martin) experiences her first period and receives support from her female family members in this 2010s sitcom. Experiences and advice make things much easier to deal with, and who knows, maybe someone could learn a tip or two from this episode? Watch this show on multiple platforms, including ABC, directed by Tracee Ellis Ross.

Orange Is The New Black

OITNB is a fictional, comedically stirring, controversial series, on Netflix, about women in prison and their day-to-day lives. In Season 5, Gina Murphy (Abigail Savage) fakes an injury by using her period blood. This scene shows how period blood is just regular blood. Jodie Foster directed this series.

Workin' Moms

In a scene between a mother and her friend's daughter, she explains the menstrual cycle and how it's just a normal part of the female body. Check out this Netflix original about working moms directed by Catherine Reitman, Aleysa Young, and Paul Fox.

No Strings Attached

In a scene from this comedy, Adam Franklin (Ashton Kutcher) brings Emma Kurtzman (Natalie Portman) and her friend's cupcakes and a period mixtape. This movie is available on YouTube and other platforms.

New Girl

Pain, cramps, cravings are everyday things to experience when menstruating, demonstrated in an episode of New Girl called "Menzies." Jessica "Jess" Day (Zooey Deschanel) ends up having her period, and it shows the pains of menstruation and its effects. This scene's significance is the relatability and normalization of the menstrual cycle and what could come with it. This show is available on almost any platform, directed by multiple people.

Periods are not disgusting, abnormal, or something to ridicule. People who experience menstruation should live with it comfortably, knowing that it is not something to make a big deal. These movies and TV shows help to reflect that adequately.