Name, pronouns, career/job title?
Delphine Hirsh, She/Her/Hers. I founded an org called TheFlow which advocates for menstrual equity, creates greater awareness about reusable menstrual products and provides free reusable products for low-income menstruators. I also write stories for adults and kids, some of which can be found at delphinehirsh.
In your opinion, what are the most prominent challenges facing women today?
Being part of a culture that still doesn’t treat women (especially women of color and people of color generally) equally creates a lot of challenges. So, equal pay, free childcare (especially before children are in school), equal health (and mental health) care and outcomes, access to decent education, fairer law enforcement and criminal justice system, support for caregivers, equitable valuation of fields that are predominantly female, control over our bodies and reproductive rights are all up there. There is a lot of work to do.
In your opinion, what are the most prominent challenges facing underrepresented groups as a whole today? (i.e. racial minorities, those with physical and cognitive disabilities,
socioeconomically disadvantaged, etc.)
In a culture that already has so much inequality, mass incarceration and the criminalization of poverty are two crises that we must address. And we need sane immigration reform.
How has the political and social climate of social justice changed throughout your lifetime?
It feels that there is more widespread interest in social justice by some folks, and that there is more awareness of politics in general. The LGBTIQ civil rights movement is a bright spot in the United States, as is the activism of young people like you at Bleed Shamelessly.
However, there’s a lot of false information out there. A lot of ignorance and cynicism. As well as too many people who think that “liking” something on social media is enough to create real change, which it isn’t. We need greater opportunity for different people across this country – and the world – to get to know each other.
I also think that greed has been given a pass in America. It’s horrible for everyone, and especially bad for some, but there seems to be no shame about it anymore. People seem to accept a system where shareholder profits are more important than anything else, and often even vote against their own interests.
What is of your utmost priority in terms of social justice and/ or politics currently?/ Please
describe your political and/ or social activism:
Personally, I made a commitment to help end the tax on menstrual products in California so I want to see that through. It’s important symbolically and, for some, could make the difference between being able to buy enough products or not. CA AB31 has a good chance of becoming law but we still need to make some noise! And hopefully there will be more legislation around menstrual equity soon. I would also like all menstruators to know that they have less expensive, greener choices for their cycles like menstrual cups. Soon we’ll be launching a campaign called 100 Red Suitcases (or 1000 depending on how many volunteers we get!) to send a force of women out there with a bunch of reusables to educate and donate. If anyone you know would like to volunteer, please be in touch at
delphine@theflow.world! Also, we’re trying to update the information kids get about menstrual products at school so it includes reusables too.
What do you encourage others to take part in, in order to make their communities more socially and politically inclusive?
Go out of your way to get to know people who are different from you. Put yourself in new places. Listen to what people are saying. Put yourself in places that have greater inclusivity and see how they got that way. Imagine yourself in another person’s shoes as best you can, and consider how another person’s life might be different if he/she had the same advantages/disadvantages that you have had. And invite people into your world too.
Any final thoughts?
Stay involved in elections - local and national – and hold your leaders accountable! Or become the leaders we need!
Thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts. Onwards!
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