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Think you don't know what other people, male and female, think about periods?Look at a friend comes to visit, a 30-minute video interview of many folks about their attitudes about menstruation produced by Laura James and directed by Lorena David.I found the best part late in the film, when most of the women confess that they really don't like it, something I didn't know before I started the museum.Get all the facts at Kingsize Entertainment, (U.S.A.) 323-467-7199 or fax: 323-467-7201. Visit the Web site! |
She does find this museum and Web site one of three "harbingers of change" challenging "the culture of concealment" around menstruation. And she is "delighted" by the museum and finds me "sincere," but also naive. I am, and could not have started and continued MUM without being both. I appreciate the estimate.
Many times I saw visitors, strangers to each other, talk with one another about the museum exhibits and their own feelings and ideas. And many said that this was the first time they had ever discussed menstruation this way - or at all.
Very interesting Web site! And even more so being written by a male author! From where does your interest in this most dreadful function of the female spring? [Everything is explained here.]
I am 48 years old and back in my the early '70's I tried a ghastly, if revolutionary, little product called Tassaway. It was a hideous experience.
I was not surprised that the product disappeared from sight in what seemed to be a matter of weeks [actually years]. The thing was made of fairly hard and thick rubber [actually plastic] and I went through two or three trying to get it seated so that it did not give me a mightily painful hickey. I never was able to get it in place and the directions said not to try to remove it until it had been inserted (a silly euphemism for what really occurred with the product which was basically attach itself nearly permanently to whatever it happened to grab first) for at least ten minutes so that the cup material would have time to soften from body heat. That ten minutes was excruciating! I could not sit down because the dang thing was attached to my clitoris. [!]
I will never try any sort of device like this again. Perhaps I have odd anatomy because some of your respondents obviously love these products. Maybe the newer cups are much improved from the type that were sold in the '70's. I stick with pads!
I have told people about this product and no one believes me. They are either too young to remember or old enough, but not familiar with the product because it was so short-lived and masochistic. I thank you for verifying that indeed this product DID exist and helping me remember the name of it. [Now you can put a name to your nightmares, a consolation of sorts?]
Dear MUM,
Having studied the Sambians of New Guinea while at university I was interested to see your site.
The Sambians are an untroubled tribe and have developed their culture without our prejudices over two thousand years. So there must be some truth in it.
The Sambian women do not go anywhere near the Sambian men during their "time of the month" and scatter petunia petals around the "village" to warn the male population that there could be trouble ahead.
I have suggested to my wife that she may wish to adopt a similar policy but she has as yet declined. Have you any suggestions that she may listen to regarding this subject? [Your MUM is mum to you, Honored Reader, about my advice to the inquirer, who is asking the wrong person anyway, being an old bachelor. As if!]
I think it would be a good idea if I spend the "period" time with my girlfriend, but how could I disguise this suggestion so as to maritally maintain the status quo? [My mummification still applies.]
She has gotten a bit fat of late and this is why I feel the need to have a girlfriend. She has her decorating books so I feel it is only fair especially as I earn all the money and all she does is sit home and eat doughnuts with the five children and make curtains.
Thank you for your time.
Please, may I post a letter on your letter page?
I'm researching a documentary for the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] about menstruation - myths and facts and blessing or curse.
I have much information about the curse and predjudice but I am finding scant information about the blessing! I was thrilled to find medical information linking surgery for breast cancer and the menstrual cycle and the New Scientist report about differing medication levels required during the 28-day cycle, and the research about eating requirements differing during the cycle etc., but I want to hear from women who have evidence of the cycle as a blessing, for example, artists, writers, etc., who are at their most creative whilst menstruating.
I also want to meet women who practice menstrual seclusion, as with menstrual huts of the past [and of the present; women still use menstrual huts].
And anything and everything to do with research into menstruation.
Next week I am interviewing Mr Peter Redgrove and Penelope Shuttle who wrote the first book on menstruation that offered positive information, The Wise Wound, 1978. I am very excited about asking many questions resulting from the book. If you have any questions for them pertaining to the book or their second book, Alchemy for Women, about the dream cycle corresponding to the menstrual cycle, I would be delighted to forward them to them on your behalf. They are not on the net so any questions would have to have addresses!
Thank you so much for this glorious Web site [many thanks to you for saying that!] and I look forward to hearing from visitors to your site.
Ali Kedge.
ali@shortkedge.freeserve.co.uk or fflic.zip@business.ntl.com
Irregular menses identify women at high risk for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which exists in 6-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a major cause of infertility and is linked to diabetes.