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Notes on Body Positivity and Menstrual Activism in WGS 220

WGS 220: Body Positivity and Menstrual Activism

(LACK OF) DISCOURSES

  • Cultural Taboo: Menstruation is often treated as a secretive or trivial topic, leading to hidden discourses in mainstream culture.
  • Power Dynamics: Trivialization can signify underlying power structures, highlighting the potential for resistance against societal norms.
  • Menstrual Activism: Defined as social activism intended to challenge the stigmas surrounding menstruation, addressing the silencing and shaming of menstruators.
  • Gender Inequities: Despite improvements in workplace gender equity over the last two decades, inequities persist in personal and domestic spheres, ultimately affecting women's safety, body image, and overall well-being.

NEW STORIES

  • Resisting Silence: Examines how individuals challenge the secretive nature of menstruation, promoting new perspectives on managing menstrual cycles.
  • Definition of Menstruators: Refers to "people whose bodies bleed periodically," emphasizing that menstruation should not be strictly linked to womanhood.
  • Breaking Taboos: Menstruation can be a vehicle to confront taboos associated with sexism and societal shame, allowing space for learning and empowerment from the menstrual experience.

MENSTRUAL ART AND ACTIVISM

MENSTRUATION ART

  • Feminist Resistance: Acts as a radical form of opposition, redefining menstruation's narrative from one of secrecy to visibility and authenticity.
  • Confronting Stereotypes: Challenges societal views that categorize menstruation as dirty, passive, or shameful, addressing the abject representations of women's bodies.
  • Art and Activism: The interplay of artistic expression and activism creates a bridge between public and private, serious and playful, shameful and defiant narratives about menstruation.

MENSTRUAL ZINES

  • Definition of Zines: Self-produced and often non-conformist publications that bypass formal publishing norms to promote alternative narratives in women's health.
  • Lady Bits Zine: Created by Rachel Rolseth, this body-positive zine includes anatomical illustrations and educational materials about female anatomy, fertility, and menstruation, fostering body literacy.
  • Damn Bloody Rite Zine: Edited by Janeen Singer and Daniela Fernández, this quarterly publication celebrates menstruation by highlighting diverse perspectives and real-life experiences, countering negative stereotypes reinforced by traditional narratives.
  • Cycling Out: Features a personal story of transitioning from a biologically female menstruating identity to a male body, showcasing diverse menstruators' experiences.

BODY AS A MIRROR OF ITS TIME

  • Social Reflection: Bodies reflect broader societal struggles, encompassing issues such as abortion, rape, and sexual autonomy.
  • Media Representation: Coverage of women's bodily issues in media often fails to objectively reflect their complexity, revealing systemic degradations experienced by women daily.

PERIOD COMMENTARY

  • Media References: Highlights cultural commentary on menstruation, such as skits from SNL and campaigns from companies like Kotex that address women's progress and societal discomfort.
  • Current Research: References recent studies indicating that many women feel progress towards gender equality has stagnated, impacting their experiences and perceptions of bodily autonomy.