Flow

Adult nonfiction 

     "Women could also depend on the good ol' terra firma, the ground itself.  Female factory workers would often work standing up, sans underwear and knee-deep in straw into which they freely bled.  The work station, much like a stall full of farm animals, would be mucked out when the conditions became unbearably filthy."

     Can you join me in saying eeeuw!!!

     Chances are that a little half of you readers either are or have for decades of your life had a menstrual cycle.  Chances are that there's a lot you haven't been told about this basic but complex bodily function.  It's still for many a taboo topic.  Once I almost caused a riot by suggesting that a church group include period products in care packages for homeless people.  In their Flow:  The Cultural Story Of Menstruation Elissa Stein and Susan Kim deliver all the facts your mom or health teacher may not have mentioned.

     They also deliver the history of how periods have been demonized (by males) and experienced (by females).  We get the not so pretty story of how girls and women coped during that time of the month before the arrival of pads and tampons. One way was the scenario quoted at the top of the review.  And the whole volume is replete with ads for period products from the 1920s to the 21st century.

     The dark side of the industry is also portrayed: how research on products, including those with strong chemicals is conducted by the industry rather than by independent scientists; how some products have stayed on the market until nasty side effects such as toxic shock and cancer have been discovered, how ads have used shame about a natural bodily process to push products...

     Flow is an excellent read 📚 for feminist scholars and females who want more ownership of their bodies.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a great time Thursday night.  We had a delicious pot luck supper.  Then we went outside and sang songs around a camp 🔥.   Adam, who has worked as a fire fighter, would be proud of me.  I thought to bring out a bucket 🪣 of water.  Fall semester I have a class that ends after the less bus home.  But since it's on Thursday I can just have supper at Wilson Center and a ride home from there.  (Jules)

That's a load off my mind.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to the Wilson Center family.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone