On Display at the Clarkston Library 2022 and Beyond: Our Current Display

Menstrual Taboo and Seclusion

Adhikari, Rojita.
"Bringing an End to Deadly ‘Menstrual Huts’ Is Proving Difficult in Nepal."
BMJ.
no. 368, 2020, p. m536.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m536
Chhaupadi [menstrual seclusion] is a deeply rooted and centuries old Hindu practice used primarily in parts of far western and midwestern Nepal. It’s based on the belief that women and girls are impure, unclean, and untouchable during menstruation. When women have their periods, they are not allowed to do a range of everyday activities and are banished into "menstruation huts" to live and sleep.
Adhikari, Rojita.

Coutinho, Elsimar M., et al. Is Menstruation Obsolete?
Oxford University Press, 1999.
Call # Ebook Central
The authors argue that regular monthly bleeding is not the "natural" state of women, and that it actually places them at risk of several medical conditions of varying severity. They maintain that while menstruation may be culturally significant, it is not medically meaningful.
https://gilfind.gsu.edu

Dunnavant, Nicki, and Tomi-Ann Roberts.
"Restriction and Renewal, Pollution and Power, Constraint and Community: The Paradoxes of Religious Women’s Experiences of Menstruation."
Sex Roles.
vol. 68, no. 1–2, 2013, pp. 121–131.
Education Source
Across cultures and historical time, menstruation has tended to be perceived as mysterious, dangerous and potentially contaminating. Most world religions place prohibitions on and prescribe codified purity rituals for menstruating women. We surveyed 340 religious and nonreligious women from the Rocky Mountain West region of the United States regarding their attitudes and experiences of menstruation.
Dunnavant, Nicki, and Tomi-Ann Roberts.

Fabia?nova?, Diana., et al. Red Moon: Menstruation, Culture & the Politics of Gender,
Ubak Producciones and Avenue B, a Media Education Foundation Release, Directed by Diana Fabia?nova?, Written by Diana Fabia?nova?, Kanopy Streaming, 2014.
Call # Kanopy
Red Moon confronts one the world's oldest and most pervasive taboo subjects. With humor and refreshing candor, the documentary provides a fascinating, often ironic, take on the absurd and frequently dangerous cultural stigmas and superstitions surrounding women's menstruation.
http://gilfind.gsu.edu

Freidenfelds, Lara. The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-Century America,
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009.
Call # Ebook Central
The Modern Period examines how and why Americans adopted radically new methods of managing and thinking about menstruation during the twentieth century. In the early twentieth century women typically used homemade cloth "diapers" to absorb menstrual blood, avoided chills during their periods to protect their health, and counted themselves lucky if they knew something about menstruation before menarche. New expectations at school, at play, and in the workplace, however, made these menstrual traditions problematic, and middle-class women quickly sought new information and products that would make their monthly periods less disruptive to everyday life.
https://gilfind.gsu.edu

Hoskins, Janet.
"The Menstrual Hut and the Witch’s Lair in Two Eastern Indonesian Societies."
Ethnology.
vol. 41, no. 4, 2002, p. 317-335.
MasterFILE Elite
https://doi.org/10.2307/4153011
Menstrual huts are associated with ideas of pollution, mysogyny, and intersexual tension in the literature, but in Huaulu, Seram, I found an ambivalently charged but not necessarily negative view of female bodies. In contrast the Kodi of Sumba do not seclude women during menstruation, but do link menstrual contamination to venereal disease, herbalism, and witchcraft.
Hopkins, Janet.

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Hufnagel, Glenda Lewin. A History of Women’s Menstruation from Ancient Greece to the Twenty-First Century Psychological, Social, Medical, Religious, and Educational Issues,
1st ed., The Edwin Mellen Press, 2012.
Call # EBSCOHost Academic eBook Collection
Hufnagel chronicles the historical inaccuracies in understanding menstruation which have contributed to viewing women as a “second sex” and perpetuated feelings of shame. Her argument claims that only in the last few decades has science begun to fully understand the issue. Subsequent social and psychological treatment of menstruation in recent years has helped women to have an increased sense of comfort with their bodies.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12562
Although consumption taboos are prevalent in everyday life, consumer research interest in the topic remains scant and focuses mostly on taboo products. This research moves by focusing on taboo persons and explores how barriers are presented in consumption choices for such individuals. A qualitative research design was used in the study and in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 women from middle and upper income classes who showed an inclination to purchase sustainable menstrual products (SMPs). This study analyses how the intimate and private consumption of SMPs gets transformed into a complex socially embedded consumption choice.
Meenakshi, N.

Nour, Nawal M.
"Menstrual Huts: A Health and Human Rights Violation."
Obstetrics and Gynecology.
vol. 136, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1–2.
https://bit.ly/talk_k
The term, chhaupadi(pronounced ChOW-pa-dee), combines the Nepali words for menstruation and women to mean “one who bears impu-rity.” It refers to the persistent practice in rural areas of western Nepal ofphysically isolating menstruating women and girls. This Hindu tradition stems from the belief that the king of the gods cursed women with menstruation, rendering them impure or unclean. Though the practice varies in the degree of physical separation, the most radical form forces menstruating girls and women to live in small huts without windows, heat, electricity, or running water. Sequestered inthe dark and exposed to colder nighttime temperatures, in desperationsome women and girls build fires, sometimes with tragic results.
Nour, Nawal M.

Pathak, Sushmita
" Controversial Solution To Menstrual Exile: Building Better Menstrual Huts."
NPR News.
WBUR, August 19, 2021.
https://wbur.fm/3vut1tT
Menstrual exile is a tradition etched deeply in some parts of India (as well as other parts of the world)...The hut upgrade is that nonprofit's way of immediately addressing menstrual exile: If you can't get a community to reject the tradition of banishing a woman from her home when she is menstruating, at least make sure the menstrual hut is relatively safe and comfortable.
https://wbur.fm/3vut1tT

Period: the End of Menstruation?
Dir. by Giovanna Chesler, Prd. by Giovanna Chesler, G6 Pictures Cinema Guild
Academic Video Online.
https://bit.ly/talk_d
Seasonale. Depo-Provera. Lybrel. As pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs that allow women to stop their periods for months and years at a time, Period: The End of Menstruation? investigates the social, cultural and medical implications of this increasingly popular new trend.
https://gilfind.gsu.edu

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"Period Poverty" and Menstrual Equity

Araujo-Hawkins, Dawn.
"A Basic Human Need."
Christian Century.
vol. 139, no. 1, Jan. 2022, pp. 28–31.
MasterFile Elite
https://bit.ly/talk_g
Period poverty is the term used to describe inadequate access to period products, and it’s a global issue. Exact numbers are hard to come by—both because menstrual health has historically been ignored by researchers and because menstruation continues to be a source of shame, so period poverty often goes unreported.
Araujo-Hawkins, Dawn.

Calfas, Jennifer.
"More States Consider Free Tampons in School Bathrooms; Wave of Student Activism Helps Fuel Bills in More than a Dozen States."
Wall Street Journal
(Online), Feb 25, 2020.
ProQuest Wall Street Journal
https://bit.ly/talk_i
In schools around the country, more girls are making the same request: free tampons. Fueled by a wave of youth activism, students are raising money, lobbying their state representatives and school boards, holding schoolwide assemblies and launching Instagram accounts to help make tampons and other menstrual products free and accessible in their school bathrooms. Lawmakers have taken notice.
Calfas, Jennifer.

Cardoso, Lauren F., et al.
"Period Poverty and Mental Health Implications among College-aged Women in the United States."
BMC Women’s Health
vol. 21, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1–7.
CINAHL
https://bit.ly/talk_h
Many young women cannot afford menstrual health products to meet their monthly needs, and this may impact their mental well-being. Improved access to affordable menstrual products is needed to support these young women.
Cardoso, Lauren F., et al.<

Casola, Allison R., et al.
"Menstrual Health: Taking Action Against Period Poverty."
American Journal of Public Health
vol. 112, no. 3, 2022, pp. 374–77.
CINAHL
https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2021.306622
Globally, period poverty and menstrual health and hygiene management have largely been examined in low and middle-income countries.1 However, this burden is also present in the United States. It is estimated that about one in four US menstruators will experience period poverty during her lifetime. Despite the prevalence, few understand, recognize, discuss, or study this issue domestically.
Casola, Allison R., et al.

Cousins, Sophie.
"Rethinking Period Poverty."
Lancet.
vol. 395, no. 10227, 2020, pp. 857–858.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30605-X
Efforts have focused on removing tampon taxes or providing free products, but stigma and society's attitudes towards menstruation also need to change. Sophie Cousins reports.
Cousins, Sophie.

Diamant, Anita.
"The Hidden Tax on Women."
Newsweek Global.
vol. 176, no. 14, May 2021, pp. 8–12.
Academic Search Complete
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=fth&AN
=150163646&site=eds-live&scope
=site&custid=gsu1
Period poverty is not the same for everyone: it can mean an empty tampon box or nowhere to dry your cloth pads; it can mean no clean water to wash your hands, no toilets to take care of yourself in private and no way to dispose of what you used.
Diamant, Anita.

Diamant, Anita, and Melissa Berton. Period. End of Sentence: A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice,
Scribner, 2021.
Call # Ebook Central
Period. End of Sentence illuminates the many ways that menstrual injustice can limit opportunities, erode self-esteem, and even threaten lives. This powerful examination of the far-ranging and quickly evolving movement for menstrual justice introduces today's leaders and shows us how we can be part of the change.
https://gilfind.gsu.edu

Free Periods.
Free Periods.
Free Periods ltd., 2022
https://www.freeperiods.org/
Free Periods is a not for profit organisation fighting to ensure that no young person has to miss out on their education because they menstruate.
https://www.freeperiods.org/mission

Goldberg, Emma.
"Many Lack Access to Pads and Tampons. What Are Lawmakers Doing About It?"
New York Times.
(Online), Jan 13, 2021.
ProQuest New York Times
https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/
many-lack-access-pads-tampons-what-are-lawmakers/
docview/2477217376/se-2?accountid=11226
For decades, lawmakers all over the world were largely silent about the issue of period poverty. But as policymakers and advocates have begun to break the taboo, with female political leaders putting a spotlight on women’s health needs, countries around the globe are devising policies to make these products more accessible.
Goldberg, Emma.

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Gruer, Catlin, et al.
"Menstrual Equity Initiatives at USA Universities: A Multiple Case Study of Common Obstacles and Enabling Factors."
Frontiers in Reproductive Health.
vol. 3, 2021, pp.1-11.
https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2021.787277
In recent years there has been growing momentum in the USA around addressing issues of “menstrual equity” and “period poverty,” including a proliferation of university-level initiatives seeking to provide access to free menstrual products. This multiple case study examined four such efforts at a diversity of tertiary institutions to identify the factors that facilitated or impeded succes.
Gruer, Catlin, et al.

Jones, Abigail.
"Free Tampons and Pads are Making their Way to U.S. Colleges, High Schools and Middle Schools."
Newsweek.
vol. 167, no. 11, Sep 23, 2016.
ABI Inform Collection.
https://www.proquest.com/magazines/free-tampons-pads-are-making-their-way-u-s/docview/1819680979/se-2?accountid=11226
Breaking the taboo of silence surrounding menstruation, means that activists can push to make menstrual products freely available at various educational instiutions.
Eileen H. Kramer.

Krishnan, Sneha, and John Twigg.
"Menstrual Hygiene: A ‘Silent’ Need during Disaster Recovery."
Waterlines.
ol. 35, no. 3, 2016, pp. 265–76.
Environment Complete
https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2016.020
Post-disaster relief and recovery operations seldom focus on women’s priorities regarding menstrual hygiene. There is an increasing awareness to incorporate inclusive, participatory, and gender-sensitive strategies for implementation of response programmes. This article presents empirical findings related to menstrual hygiene management (MHM), demonstrating it is integral to women’s privacy and safety during recovery.
Krishnan, Sneha, and John Twigg.

Michael, Janet et. al.
"Period Poverty: Why it Should be Everybody's Business."
Journal of Global Health Reports.
vol. 6, 2022, pp.1-4.
https://bit.ly/talk_n
riod poverty, defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, affects many women globally causing physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The stigma that shrouds periods further prevents individuals from talking about it. Lack of data and limited research on period poverty are challenges hence more research and engagement are called for. Period poverty like other forms of poverty can be debilitating. It can take different forms and has emotional, physical, and mental health effects on individuals. More than half of the world’s population are menstruating people, it is high time period poverty becomes everybody’s business. Since the world is drowning in plastic, reusable environmentally friendly menstrual products need to be explored. This calls for innovation alongside intersectoral collaboration to ensure access to water and sanitation.
Michael, Janet et. al

Rimmer, Abi.
"eriod Poverty: Five Minutes with . . . Eleanor Wilson."
BMJ.
vol. 362, 2018, p. k2913.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2913
Period poverty is something that doctors will rarely hear about but they will frequently treat patients who experience it. It can be horrible to experience; isolating, upsetting, degrading, and it can really impact on a patient’s dignity.
Wilson, Eleanor as qtd. by Abi Rimmer.

Schmitt, Margaret L. et al.
"A Policy for Addressing Menstrual Equity in Schools: A Case Study From New York City, U.S.A."
Frontiers in Reproductive Health,
vol. 3, 2022, pp. 1-10.
https://bit.ly/talk_j
There has been a growth in menstrual equity policy advancements in the U.S.A. in recent years; with much of the new legislation prioritizing the needs of adolescent girls in schools. New York City, a predecessor of this movement, was the first U.S.A. locality to pass such legislation in 2016. The aim of this case study was to better understand the various factors which led to the development, passage and initial implementation of New York City’s Menstrual Equity in Schools Policy.
Schmitt, Margaret L. et al.

Sommer, Marni. et al.
"Menstrual Product Insecurity Resulting from COVID-19–Related Income Loss, United States, 2020."
American Journal of Public Health.
vol. 112, no. 4, 2022, pp. 675-684.
ABI Inform Collection.
http:// doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306674
Pandemic-related income loss was a strong predictor of menstrual product insecurity, particularly for populations with lower income and educational attainment.
Sommer, Marni. et al.

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The Business of Menstruation

Boyers, Lindsay.
"8 Eco-Friendly Period Underwear Brands To Try."
Forbes.com
Mar. 2021.
Complimentary Index
https://bit.ly/talk_f
Thanks to some seriously innovative companies, "period underwear" has taken on a whole new meaning. A term that used to mean the grungy, bottom-of-the-drawer underwear reserved for wear during your cycle has now evolved into something brilliant. Today's period underwear (also called period panties) fit like regular undies, but are equipped with extra layers of fabric in the gusset that absorb menstrual blood so you can skip the tampon, pad or cup.
Boyers, Lindsay.

Carroll, Melanie.
"Expansion Ahead in Menstrual Products as Investors Line Up"
Sunday Star-Times
Aukland, New Zealand), 10 Oct. 2021, p. 62.
Newspaper Source Plus
https://bit.ly/talk_m
A Hawke's Bay [New Zealand] menstrual cup maker is on track to raise at least $1.5 million from investors, many of whom are customers. As of Friday afternoon, The Hello Cup had raised $1.075m in a public offer on investment platform Snowball Effect…The menstrual cup will remain the hero product, but in the next 12 months the company plans to launch six new products including a menstrual disc, pads, and period underwear. Menstrual cups were the fastest- growing period products last year, out of an estimated US$40 billion (NZ$57b) annual spend on period products, McLean said.
Carroll, Melanie.

Ell, Kellie.
"Thinx Panties are Back, Stronger than Ever: Women's Wear Daily."
Wwd.
2019, pp. 7.
ABI Inform Collection
https://bit.ly/talk_a
Thinx, the period panties company that launched in 2011, started off by making a big mark on the menstrual cycle industry. The idea was simple: panties that women can bleed right into, eliminating the need to buy disposable sanitary pads and therefore creating less waste. The idea proved to be popular. In its sixth year, Thinx had nearly $40 million in revenues. Executives said sales at the start-up were even higher last year, as the company continues to raise venture capital money, still clearly in growth mode. The private company, which started with just three people, has also grown to include 67 employees, and has plans to grow to around 80 by the end of 2019.
Ell, Kellie.

Miller, Jennifer.
"Shut Up About Your Organic Tampons."
Bloomberg Businessweek.
May 2016, pp. 63–65.
Complimentary Index
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=
edb&AN=115447484&site=eds-live&scope
=site&custid=gsu1
The EmpowerPanty sounds revolutionary, but it's not. It's only part of an uprising, one that's been cheered in style pages and promoted by the more than a dozen companies that have—there's really only one word to describe it—flooded the feminine-hygiene market since 2012, all eager to help women deal with that time of the month. Surely you've seen the ads for period panties, organic tampons, and monthly subscription services that mail hygiene products to your door with soothing treats such as tea and chocolate. It's not like there wasn't a need: Packaged-goods conglomerates have barely changed their wares in decades, and their messaging, with perky, smiling women in white pants, is silly and condescending.
Miller, Jennifer.

Testa, Jessica.
"Can These Period Underwear Crusaders Convert You?"
New York Times
Dec 2, 2020
ProQuest New York Times
https://bit.ly/talk_e
The Hollywood stylist Karla Welch has found a new calling in an up-and-coming menstrual product. The concept of “blood” and “bleeding” is generally avoided in mass marketing for period products. It was only recently, and with some fanfare, that commercials showed red liquid being absorbed, instead of blue. But when it comes to period underwear — an increasingly popular type of underwear made with extra-absorbent fabric — it’s difficult to avoid. At least when talking to the founders of the Period Company, a brand that was introduced in October, touting period underwear that was more affordable and sustainable than other menstrual products. For them, bleeding is a kind of profound act.
Testa, Jessica.

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