We believe that providing real solutions to period-related issues and dismantling period stigmas begins with a deep, nuanced understanding of societal realities. At With Red, every initiative is driven by evidence-based advocacy to ensure our actions directly address social challenges and generate measurable positive impact. By collaborating with global scholars and academic institutions, we conduct in-depth research, produce publications, and create documentaries to preserve women’s historical narratives, hoping to inspire and empower more people to join us in fighting for menstrual justice
Since 2020, through the "A-má ê Gue̍h (Grandma's Period) – Intergenerational Menstruators' Memory Preservation Project," we have been documenting stories across four generations in Yilan. This initiative has sparked vital conversations across different generations and genders surrounding bodily memories, gender stereotypes, and societal frameworks.
Throughout this project, we discovered that creating space for older generations to share their stories and ensuring those stories are truly heard does more than just healing and reframing past negative memories into positive ones. It also empowers others to step forward and share their own life stories.
In 2022, we expanded the project by incorporating art therapy and life storytelling books. Entering the Datong Senior & Day Care Center in Taipei, we brought together 8 young participants and 10 elders aged 66 to 95 for a 12-session creative journey. Using fluid painting, needle felting, clay sculpting, and ink painting on pads, participants engaged in intergenerational interaction and collaborative artistic creation.
Beyond hands-on artwork, we accompanied these elders as they opened up about their personal life experiences centered on their bodies and menstruation. This process challenged the taboo and silence often associated with body and gender issues among older generations, fostering deep dialogue and mutual understanding across age gaps.
Through "A-má ê Gue̍h" (Grandma's Period), we amplify the voice of Grandmas for all to hear.
By uncovering Taiwan's historical footprint and fostering intergenerational dialogue, we help uncover and untie the deep-seated knots within our hearts.
Through connection and understanding, we find healing and peace—empowering everyone to courageously speak their own "uē" (truth & periods).
In Taiwan, numerous customs and taboos surround menstruation and the body. Many have heard the age-old saying, "Menstruators on their periods must not enter temples to pray." Some believe this stems from the notion that menstruation is impure and offends the deities, rendering prayers ineffective. Others attribute it to the "yin" (negative or dark) energy associated with menstruation. The explanations are as diverse as they are pervasive.
"Are these beliefs grounded in fact? Do they truly hold up?"
In the making of An Ethnography on Menstrual History and Culture in Taiwan, our team spent a full year conducting in-depth interviews across twelve temples throughout Taiwan. Covering deities of diverse genders and attributes, including Mazu, the City God, Queen Mother of the West, King Qingshan, and Guanyin. We also gathered insights from temple managers, committee chairs, directors, and palanquin team leaders.
Our editorial team also immersed themselves in one of Taiwan’s largest religious and cultural traditions: the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. Furthermore, we interviewed experts in religious anthropology and Taiwanese folk culture, along with local village elders who possess deep familiarity with temple traditions, capturing diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
By examining gender and menstruation through the lenses of folk religion and sociocultural context, we officially published An Ethnography on Menstrual History and Culture in Taiwan in late 2023. We invited over ten temples across Taiwan to join our Period-Friendly Map as "Period-Friendly Temples," collectively identifying breakthroughs for the modern reinterpretation and transformation of traditional customs.
We envision a world where everyone on this land
can embrace their body and live freely, on their own terms
You can purchase our publications in two ways: visit The Red House Period Museum in person (Opening hours: Fri–Sun, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM), or shop online via the button above at our official online store.
You can purchase our publications in two ways: visit The Red House Period Museum in person (Opening hours: Fri–Sun, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM), or shop online via the button above at our official online store.
