completley agree. it is important to educate men better about periods
too, as i remember all too well from idiot boys in soc ed at school! x

2009/7/3 Bristol Feminist Network <bristol_feminist@...>:
>
>
> Could this be a topic for the Sex Ed discussion on Aug 25th? The way we
> teach young men and women about periods is so important.
>
> K
> x
>
>
>
>
> --- On Fri, 3/7/09, Sian Norris <sianm.norris@...> wrote:
>
> From: Sian Norris <sianm.norris@...>
> Subject: Re: [bristol_feminist] Periods
> To: bristol_feminist@...
> Date: Friday, 3 July, 2009, 8:29 AM
>
> hi jess
>
> i am right there with you! i've written a bit about this on my blog -
> www.sianandcrookedr ib.blogspot. com.
>
> would definitely be up for doing something to give women a positive
> education about their periods, rather than relying on the crap that is
> out there at the moment, from the excruciatingly bad "mother nature"
> tampon ad that is on tv at the mo, do the visit from the tampax lady
> when you're in year 7 and year 10 at secondary school.
>
> speak soon
>
> sian xx
>
> 2009/7/2 Jessica <jezzburton@yahoo. com>:
>>
>>
>> Some of you may know I wrote my BA dissertation on the representation of
>> periods in advertisements, which lead on to the information given to young
>> girls about periods. My research found that not only were "information"
>> pamphlets invented by sanitary towel/tampon companies and written by men,
>> they created a precedent for all other information given to girls and
>> women
>> down to this day (not least because adverts are one of the only sources of
>> information available).
>>
>> In short, from my research and my own experience, I have concluded that
>> the
>> information given out to girls and women at the moment through
>> "educational"
>> pamphlets and adverts is a bunch of crap.
>>
>> I would like to somehow produce alternative information because I just
>> can't
>> get periods off my mind! This is still in the idea stage, so I'm not sure
>> what format this information might take, be it a website, book, pamphlet,
>> lesson plan, seminar or what. But I want my information to reflect actual
>> lived experience of periods (or lack of them).
>>
>> I think the best (and least used) way for women to find out about periods
>> is
>> to talk to other women, so, I'd like to invite anyone who is interested to
>> tell me about their periods!
>>
>> Anyone who contributes will have their responses treated strictly
>> confidentially, and will be informed about the progress of this idea.
>> Permission will be sought if, down the line, I would like to use quotes
>> from
>> the comments in some way. I will not use the information in any way
>> without
>> permission.
>>
>> I am interested in every woman's experience. All women are part of the
>> "periods" continuum, even if she has never had a period. Indeed,
>> contributions from women whose reproductive function is outside the very
>> narrow definition of "normal" given in textbooks are most welcome and
>> valuable.
>>
>> To help you, you might like to answer some of these questions:
>>
>> Are your periods different to how you were taught they would be when
>> younger? How?
>> Are they the same as how you were taught they would be?
>> Do you have strong feelings about your periods?
>> Are you feelings affected by the way periods were presented to you when
>> you
>> were younger?
>> How would you have liked to find out about/be taught about your periods?
>> How do you deal with the practicalities of periods?
>> Have your periods changed as you have got older?
>> Have your methods of dealing with them/thinking about them changed?
>> Do you have any thoughts on PMS? The medicalisation of periods?
>> Do you have any hints or tips?
>> Do you think it is possible to control your periods?
>> What has surprised you about your periods?
>>
>> You can email me at jezzburton@yahoo. com
>>
>> If you are interested in adverts/pamphlets for girls you could request my
>> dissertation or look at
>> http://www.mum. org
>> or
>> http://library. duke.edu/ digitalcollectio ns/adaccess/
>>
>> thanks all!
>> Jess
>> xxx
>>
>>
>
>