Premenstrual bodies across borders: negative premenstrual embodiment among migrant women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia

Negative premenstrual embodiment and body dissatisfaction are influenced by cultural discourse but remain underexplored in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrant women. This qualitative analysis of 305 surveys and 20 interviews in Australia examined how CALD women construct and experience the premenstrual body. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed dual surveillance, where cultural scripts of purity, modesty, and silence intersected with Western ideals of thinness and control, intensifying distress and body dissatisfaction. Migration provided alternative frameworks that allowed individuals to challenge and resist negative reproductive discourses embedded in their cultures of origin. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive healthcare and community education to support CALD women’s well-being.