Class Privilege and Spiritual Capital

Abstract This article examines the Red Tent movement in Slovenia as a form of feminist-spiritualist menstrual activism, framing menstruation as sacred and empowering and offering ritual and emotional care while challenging patriarchal, capitalist, and religious norms. Drawing from ethnographic data including participant observation and interviews, the study critically examines how these gatherings navigate issues of inclusivity, particularly concerning social class. While Slovenian Red Tents present themselves as open and egalitarian, by inviting women from all backgrounds to participate creating an inclusive environment, findings reveal that it does not appeal to all, but mainly to urban, middle-class, and well-educated women. This suggests that access to these spaces is shaped by economic, cultural and spiritual capital. The article also discusses that one of the main reasons for participation is women’s search for personal empowerment and self-fulfillment representing an alternative to the shame and sexism that characterize women’s experiences with menstruation.