Girls in Power : Gender, Body, and Menstruation in Adolescence

GIRLS IN POWER......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 10 MENSTRUATION IS . . .......Page 12 SALIENT BODY EXPERIENCES......Page 14 THE TEEN PARTICIPANTS......Page 18 THE INTERVIEWERS......Page 21 ANALYSIS OF THE DATA......Page 22 ORGANIZATION OF THIS BOOK......Page 23 CONCEALMENT AND SHAME......Page 26 THE HORRORS OF LEAKING......Page 29 “WHY I NEVER CARRY A PURSE”......Page 31 THE BODY AS ACTOR......Page 34 WHAT IF IT GETS STUCK?......Page 35 TAMPAX ADS IN A ROOM FULL OF BOYS......Page 40 THE CHECKOUT BOY......Page 41 “SURFIN’ THE CRIMSON WAVE”......Page 42 “IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL”......Page 47 3. Cultural Contexts......Page 50 CULTURAL HISTORY OF MENSTRUATION......Page 51 CONCEALMENT AND HYGIENE......Page 52 TABOOS......Page 54 CONTEMPORARY VIEWS AND ADVICE......Page 55 HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE......Page 56 SCHOOLS......Page 59 THE FAMILY......Page 61 MEDIA, ADVERTISING, AND MERCHANDISING......Page 64 MEDICALIZATION OF MENSTRUATION......Page 68 FIFTH-GRADE HEALTH CLASS......Page 69 MENSTRUATION AS A REPRODUCTIVE ISSUE......Page 73 WHAT ABOUT THE BLOOD?......Page 75 EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOREVER AND EVER......Page 77 MENSTRUAL SUPPRESSION?......Page 80 THE VALUE OF FEMALE BODIES......Page 83 WHAT IF MEN COULD MENSTRUATE?......Page 86 UNDERSTANDING GENDER......Page 88 LIVING IN OUR BODIES......Page 90 5. Girls in Power......Page 94 AGENCY AND POWER......Page 95 CREATIVELY RESPONDING TO DOMINANT SOCIAL NORMS......Page 96 FORGING CONNECTIONS......Page 98 “I DON’T THINK BOYS COULD HANDLE IT”......Page 101 MENSTRUATION IS SOCIAL......Page 104 GETTING “IT”......Page 106 STORIES AND SUPPORTIVE TALK......Page 109 WHAT’S NORMAL......Page 110 HOW EMBARRASSING!......Page 113 BUT ADULTS DON’T TALK THIS WAY!......Page 115 INTERVIEWING IN COMMUNITY GROUPS......Page 118 ISN’T MENSTRUATION A PERSONAL EVENT?......Page 119 “WE SHOULD JUST CREATE A WOMEN’S STORE”......Page 120 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER......Page 122 BLAMING MENSTRUATION......Page 126 “GROSSING THEM OUT”......Page 130 MENSTRUATION AS A SEXUAL ISSUE......Page 131 BOYS’ JOKES......Page 134 WHO HAS THE POWER?......Page 138 EMBARRASSING AND TEASING GIRLS......Page 139 GIRLS’ ADVANTAGES......Page 141 EXPRESSING POWER:SECOND AND THIRD WAVE FEMINISM......Page 143 POTENTIAL FOR MANIPULATION......Page 146 ALTERNATE RESPONSES BY BOYS......Page 148 “MY FRIEND KRISTIN EXPLAINED . . .”......Page 150 BEEF JERKY......Page 153 THE TEENS’ CONCLUDING THOUGHTS......Page 156 DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS......Page 158 SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND GENDERED POWER......Page 159 MENSTRUAL CELEBRATIONS......Page 161 REFLECTIONS ON RESEARCH METHODS......Page 164 CONCLUSION......Page 166 APPENDIX A: Participants in Individualand Group Interviews......Page 168 GIRLS......Page 169 BOYS......Page 170 APPENDIX B: Interview Guides......Page 172 INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS......Page 173 GROUP INTERVIEWS......Page 175 Notes......Page 180 References......Page 188 E......Page 198 M......Page 199 T......Page 200 Z......Page 201 Girls in Power offers a fascinating and unique look at the social aspects of menstruation in the lives of adolescent girls-and also in the lives of adolescent boys. Although there has been much research on other aspects of gender and the body, this is one of the few books to examine menstruation and the first to explore how it plays a part in power interactions between boys and girls. Talking openly in single- and mixed-gender settings, individuals and groups of high school–age girls and boys share their interpretations and experiences of menstruation. Author Laura Fingerson reveals that while teens have negative feelings about menstruation, teen girls use their experiences of menstruation as a source of embodied power in their interactions with other girls and with boys. She also explores how boys deal with their own reduced power. The book extends our theoretical and analytical understanding of youth, gender, power, and embodiment by providing a more balanced view of adolescent social life. "Girls in Power offers a look at the social aspects of menstruation in the lives of adolescent girls - and also in the lives of adolescent boys. The book extends our theoretical and analytical understanding of youth, gender, power, and embodiment by providing a more balanced view of adolescent social life."--Jacket