Menstrual inequities expose blind spot in social work practice

The persistent neglect of menstrual health within social work scholarship is undermining efforts to achieve gender equity and social justice, according to a new academic review. A team of researchers from Charles Sturt University has published findings that highlight a striking gap in the discipline’s engagement with menstrual justice.

The study, titled “Menstrual Inequities and Menstrual Justice: A Scoping Review of Social Work Literature,” appears in the journal International Social Work (2025). It systematically reviews peer-reviewed research to evaluate how menstruation is addressed in social work discourse, how inequities are framed, and what role the profession has played in advancing menstrual justice.

How does social work literature address menstrual inequities?

The authors conducted a scoping review of 25 peer-reviewed papers that referenced menstruation within social work contexts. Their analysis reveals that menstruation is overwhelmingly underrepresented, often sidelined as a peripheral health or hygiene issue rather than treated as a central justice concern. This under-engagement contrasts sharply with global commitments such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognize gender equity as a critical driver of sustainable development.

When menstruation is mentioned in social work research, it is most commonly framed in relation to stigma, poverty, limited access to products, and educational barriers. The review shows that while these themes are acknowledged, they are rarely explored with the depth and systemic perspective needed to tackle structural injustice. Menstrual experiences are described as shaped by inequity, yet the broader implications for social justice remain largely overlooked within the discipline’s scholarship.

Why is menstruation a social justice issue?

According to the study, menstruation must be understood beyond a biological function, as it intersects with issues of poverty, gender inequality, and human dignity. Millions of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals worldwide face exclusion, discrimination, and missed opportunities in education and employment because of inadequate access to menstrual products and persistent cultural stigma.

By neglecting menstruation as a justice issue, social work risks failing in its broader mission to advocate for marginalized communities. The review makes clear that menstrual inequities are not isolated health concerns but are rooted in systemic inequalities that restrict full participation in society. This framing demands that social work practitioners and scholars expand their understanding of justice to explicitly include menstrual health.

The authors argue that a menstrual justice framework, which integrates rights-based approaches, equity considerations, and policy advocacy, is essential to shift the conversation. Such a framework highlights that dignity, safety, and access to resources during menstruation are basic justice concerns, not optional areas of welfare support.

What role should social work play in advancing menstrual justice?

The findings underscore that social workers are uniquely positioned to champion menstrual justice but have not yet done so in a meaningful way. Social work is built on principles of equity, advocacy, and support for vulnerable groups, making it a natural profession to confront menstrual stigma and push for systemic change. Yet the scoping review shows that the discipline has so far lacked leadership in this area.

The authors call for social work to engage in transformative practice, which includes:

• Policy advocacy to ensure equitable distribution of menstrual products in schools, workplaces, and community services.
• Educational initiatives that challenge stigma and normalize menstrual conversations in social work training.
• Research contributions that expand the evidence base on menstrual inequities, linking them to broader social justice frameworks.
• Community-level interventions that address intersectional disadvantages, especially for marginalized groups disproportionately affected by menstrual inequities.

By embedding menstrual justice into its research and practice, social work could significantly strengthen its contributions to achieving the SDGs on gender equality and social justice. The paper concludes that failing to address this issue undermines both the credibility and the effectiveness of the profession in advancing equity.

A neglected frontier for social justice

The findings make it clear that menstrual inequities remain a neglected frontier in social work. Despite the discipline’s long-standing focus on justice, poverty alleviation, and advocacy, it has yet to integrate menstruation meaningfully into its frameworks. This absence leaves a critical gap in both scholarship and practice at a time when menstrual justice is gaining recognition as a global priority.

The study demonstrates that menstruation must be reframed as an urgent social work issue, one that intersects with poverty, education, gender equity, and dignity. Only by engaging fully with menstrual justice can the profession fulfill its mandate to advocate for marginalized populations and contribute to the global movement toward equality.