HELLO & WELCOME
DR LARA OWEN
Author | Teacher | Researcher | Consultant | Mentor
My work is concerned with the culture, politics and organization of menstruation and menopause. I’ve been working in this field on and off for over 30 years, and full-time for the past decade.
I hold a PhD in menstrual organization from Monash Business School in Melbourne. I’ve researched and taught at several universities, and since 2020 I’ve worked at the University of St Andrews, where I’m now an Honorary Research Fellow.
My first book, Her Blood Is Gold, investigated the influence of culture on menstrual experience, and explored ways to honour the menstrual cycle.
My forthcoming book on the reorganization of menstruation and its impact on society, (title to be confirmed), is due for publication in the spring of 2024 by Oxford University Press.
TEACHING
Contemporary Menstrual Studies
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MONTHLY WEBINARS
Sept 15, 1-2 pm UK time: Overview of the latest menstrual research across disciplines.
Oct 13, 1-2 pm UK time: Trauma as a causative factor in menstrual symptoms and syndromes: This is a crucial area of menstrual research, currently getting more attention along with our understanding of trauma more broadly.
Nov 10, 1-2 pm UK time: Menstruation and menopause in the workplace: New developments including the BSI policy recommendations.
Dec 8, 1-2 pm UK time: Menstruation & spirituality: The menstruality movement and mainstream perspectives.
Year-long online course
Registration for 2024 is now open (with a 20% early bird reduction until Nov 30 2023)
This year-long Masters-level course explores menstruation today in the contexts of business, feminism, health, law, politics, popular culture, spirituality, sustainability, technology, sport, and wellbeing.
• Join a dedicated group of fellow students and practitioners from around the world
• Receive a wealth of information to ground and inform your future work
• Learn from a pioneer and long-time expert in the field
Her Blood Is Gold:
Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation
Lara’s ground-breaking book on destigmatising and acknowledging menstruation was published by HarperCollins in 1993 and has since been updated twice. It is now in its fourth edition (2022, Archive Publishing), sells in higher numbers each year, and has recently been published in translation in Brazil (2019) and France (2021). The English language edition was reissued with a new cover in 2022. A Spanish edition will be published in late 2023.
Her Blood Is Gold:
Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation
This ground-breaking book on destigmatising and acknowledging menstruation was published by HarperCollins in 1993 and has since been updated twice. It is now in its fourth edition (2022, Archive Publishing), sells in higher numbers each year, and has recently been published in translation in Brazil (2019) and France (2021). The English language edition was reissued with a new cover in 2022.
LATEST
NEWS from Lara
September 2023: This summer was for book-finishing and then relaxing. Now it’s back to work. Monthly webinars restart on Sept 15, and registration has just opened for Contemporary Menstrual Studies 2024.
May 2023: Always a busy month regarding menstruation with Menstrual Health/Hygiene Day on May 28. We have our annual Menstruation Research Network conference in Scotland on May 26. On May 19 I’m doing a Zoom event for the 30th anniversary of the publication of Her Blood Is Gold.
April 2023: The first of my new series of monthly Zoom seminars is coming up on April 21st. Reserve your place and find out more at Eventbrite.
March 2023: This year’s Contemporary Menstrual Studies course begins this month, with 22 students from 11 countries, representing all 6 inhabited continents.
February 2023: Two new podcasts this month, one on menarche and the other on menopause.
January 2023: Happy New Year! The next Contemporary Menstrual Studies course is booking up fast. Scholarship applications are now open.
Click here for older news and events
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