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.
- 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.