Circles of Care: Menstrual Care Beyond Capitalism

Cycles of Care: Menstrual Health Beyond Capitalism

I’m thrilled to introduce Cycles of Care, a project rooted in creating a series of community-based Care Circles centered around menstrual health, collective care, and artistic expression. As part of my Master’s Final Project in Political Ecology, Degrowth, and Environmental Justice, this initiative aims to provide a space where menstruators can connect, share knowledge, and reflect critically on how capitalism and societal norms shape our relationship with menstruation.

These gatherings will culminate in a final exhibition, which will document our journey and offer a blueprint for similar spaces to be created within other communities.

What the Project Entails

In Cycles of Care, I am bringing together people from my community to explore and share various approaches to menstrual health in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Our Care Circles are welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds can join, regardless of their personal relationship with menstruation.

The project includes:

Care Circles: Facilitated gatherings where participants can share stories, experiences, and intergenerational remedies, while also crafting sustainable menstrual products and artwork.

Crafting and Expression: A hands-on element allows participants to create reusable menstrual pads and other artwork, with an open invitation for everyone to contribute to a final exhibition.

Final Exhibition: Showcasing our journey through audio-visual recordings, quotes, artwork, and crafts from the Care Circles, the exhibition is a collective expression of resilience, solidarity, and the need for alternative spaces of care. It will be open to the public to inspire more conversations and empower others to recreate similar gatherings in their communities.

Why This Project Matters

Menstrual health is often commercialized and treated as a commodity in capitalist systems, emphasizing products over people and productivity over well-being.

Cycles of Care seeks to reclaim menstruation as a shared experience and as a space of resistance against these norms. The project challenges the commodification of menstruation and advocates for sustainable practices, mutual aid, and the right to care for our bodies in our own ways

How Your Support Will Make an Impact

Your contribution will help fund materials for crafting, space for the final exhibition, and essential supplies for documentation (such as audio-visual equipment).

By supporting this project, you’re helping to bring a unique vision of community-based health, mutual care, and creative expression to life.

Thank you for helping us build a space for open conversation, solidarity, and collective empowerment. With your support, we can take a step toward reclaiming our stories, challenging societal norms, and inspiring new ways to foster community care.

Project Calendar Outline

November 2024 - January 2025: Hosting Care Circles, gathering participants for community-based sessions focused on shared experiences, crafting, and exploring menstrual health practices.

February - March 2025: Finalizing the exhibition setup, curating artwork, and preparing materials created during the Care Circles.

March 2025: Launch of the final exhibition, showcasing the journey, creations, and reflections from the Care Circles.

April 2025: Sending rewards to supporters as a thank-you for making this project possible.

ABOUT ME

Hi! I’m Angelica, a 24-year-old based in Barcelona with a passion for community-building and social justice. I graduated in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus in Anthropology from Amsterdam University College, and I’m currently completing my Master’s in Political Ecology, Degrowth, and Environmental Justice. My work is dedicated to exploring sustainable practices and creating spaces for collective care and learning, with the hope of inspiring positive change in how we relate to each other and the environment.

Credits - Campaign Image: Doin' the Goddess Dance by Denise Elizabeth Stone