New this week: Modess
"Sanitary Shield" (1972) - SheShells
underpants (1970s) - humor
Celebrate the First Annual Menstrual
Monday! See below.
Letters to Your MUM
I mentioned this tampon
dispenser in these news pages last September
Dear Museum of Menstruation!
My name is Maria Kreutz and I am a designer who lives in Sweden.
Recently I read an article about you in a Swedish magazine which also
discussed a tampon container that I invented.
It is a tampon container that you put on the wall in the bathroom just
as naturally as you have a container for toilet paper, cotton pads, Kleenex,
etc. The tampon container has become quite popular and lots of newspapers
have written about it here in Sweden. I would like to send you one as a
gift for you to have in your menstruation museum. [Great!]
I think it is about time for tampons to have their own place in the
bathroom, i.e., not hidden.
Is menstruation bad?
There's an article about menstruation being bad
for women's health in the Guardian [a newspaper in the United Kingdom]
today. Basically the same thing as the New Yorker
magazine article [see last week's
news], I expect. [It seems to be based on a The
Lancet - the distinguished British medical journal - article. It's
interesting the New Yorker article appeared at the same time.] The article
is on-line here [The link may be DEAD by the time
you click; newspapers sometimes have to make room on their servers for
new articles]:
Anna Simpson [an English molecular biologist who has submitted much
interesting information to these pages, including this news.]
Are tampons expensive? Can someone tell
her and us why?
Hi, Mr. Finley,
I am a freelance writer and I'm doing
some research on a story I'd like to pitch to a magazine. I would like
to find out more about WHY tampons, pads, and other
feminine products (i.e. yeast infection creams and pregnancy tests) are
sooo expensive!
If you've ever looked at the prices, you'll see
that they are pretty high.
Is there anyone who you would recommend me calling
to find out more about this? I have tried calling the Tampax consumer line
but there are not very helpful. [I have helped
her a little; can anyone else help her?]
I mean, is there any reason WHY these products
are offered at such a premium? Do the materials used cost a lot? Or is
it the production?
Perhaps you can help steer me in the right direction.
I appreciate your help; thanks in advance,
Best,
Liz Krieger
The angel-of-menopause doll
Will you please consider my link, Menopause
Angel, for your site? [Sure!] The Menopause Angel
[doll] pattern is designed especially for menopausal women. The
angel has helpful charms and accessories that are explained in the card/poem
which is included in the pattern. Easy!
Thank you,
Lori Rhoads
Who can help her with folklore about menstruation?
Hi there!
I recently found your site, and have really been enjoying it!
I am currently doing a project on folklore and
menstruation. I am trying to find examples of folklore regarding
menstruation, either directly or metaphorically. I was wondering if you
might know any folk tales, myths, or legends,
or if you might be able to point me towards some helpful resources.
Thanks for your time!!
Kyla [click to send her information]
Purrfect cat fun from a buddy
What does a cat wear to bed? Purrjamas.
If your cat constantly roams through the neighborhood at all hours
of the day, how do you describe him? Purripetetic.
Celebrate the
First Annual Menstrual Monday!
When: The
Monday before Mother's Day, because menstruation comes before motherhood
(and usually long after it, too). This year's Menstrual Monday falls on
May 8, 2000. If you live in a country that
doesn't celebrate Mother's Day as in the United States, pick a day that
seems appropriate and convenient for a "Menstrual Monday"!
Where: In your backyard at sunrise;
in the cafeteria at lunch; after work; at your friend's house; in the classroom;
in your dorm room - wherever is convenient and appropriate!
Why: To create a sense of happiness
and fun around menstruation; to encourage women to be proactive in addressing
menstrual and reproduction-related health issues; to encourage greater visibility
of menstruation culturally, in film, print, music, and other media; and
to enhance honesty about menstruation in our relationships.
How: Wear a red article of clothing,
put a red tablecloth on the table at dinner; talk to an older or younger
relative about her menstrual experiences; create some art or do some writing
about menstruation, and share with friends; share information about PMS,
endometriosis, or self-breast examinations; create a ritual involving red
candles and red tulips. In short: Whatever seems convenient and appropriate
to you!
Free Starter Kit!
Please feel free to download the above text to
make flyers or post on your own website, to email
a friend, and so on. For more information,
or to receive a FREE Menstrual Monday "starter
kit" - please e-mail menstrullenium@aol.com
or write, with your address:
4881 Packard #A2
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Anti-Tampon Conference
A friend e-mailed me this announcement:
While there are many things you could do on April 1st and 2nd, do them
in Harrisonburg, Virginia (U.S.A.)! (More
information at the bottom of this news item). Here
is what you should do: come to the ANTI-TAMPON
conference. It is also known as the Mid-Atlantic
Feminist Conference, and some like to call
it the LetBloodFlow Fest, but don't get scared off by the name before you
read the description.
This conference is a feminist conference which
will focus on activism, radical change, and
womyn's empowerment. It is being held in order
to make the anti-tampon campaign more cohesive
and powerful. It will make everyone more powerful
with education, inspiration, workshops and
networking.
During this conference:
*Inga Muscio, author of the amazing book, Cunt,
will make a presentation and will give workshops.
To find out more about her go to http://www.kalikunti.com/
"Cunt does for feminism what smoothies did
for high fiber diets - it reinvents the oft-indigestible into something
sweet and delicious." - bust magazine
*The Blood Sisters, menstrual activists and creators
of Urban Armour and the zine Red Zone from Montreal
will do presentations, and a workshop or two. check
out their website http://www.pirg.ca/~bloodsisters/
*Lynn Lough, the owner of the beautiful goddess-centered shop On My Wings, and creator of "Goddess
Girls . . . an alternative to scouting," will
give workshops on goddesses and spirituality
*The Queens of Periodia will do workshops on
making menstrual pads and decorating yourself
with a message (tampon crown making)
*Sue Spivey, amazing feminist teacher and professor
of sociology, will do a workshop exploring
the way healthcare has gone from midwifery
to the present medical industry and another
workshop on an overview of radical feminism
(the past)
*A double workshop on men in feminism given by
Rus Funk, the author of "Stopping Rape:
a challenge for men." The workshop will
examine how patriarchy has affected men and
how it hurts womyn and then will go on to
things that can be done to change those patterns.
it will explore men's role in feminism and ways
to actively fight sexism.
*We will discuss the campaign and where it is
going, brainstorm new actions, collaborate
with plans, provide and share materials, pamphlets,
resources etc
*We will help plan and prepare for the direct
action that will occur at a tampon plant in
late April
*We will show Born In Flames, an awesome video
about womyn becoming revolutionaries (they
take over NBC aw, yeah!)
*We will have a cunt-coloring contest
*Yoga yoga
*******************************************************
We are still working on confirming the following
workshops:
*Menstrual extraction given by herbalist Sister
Zeus, who's expertise lies in this area
*Zine-making given by Mike Schade who has a really
cool activist-and-hardcore-oriented zine called
hodgepodge *Herbal solutions/help
for "PMS" also given by Sister Zeus
*A film/presentation by the Lesbian Avengers
*Radical cheerleading *Art
action *Chip mills, rayon and how by using
tampons you are supporting forest devastation
*Pelvic self-examinations *Self-defense
*Abortifacients, reproductive choices and rights
*Animal rights and feminism *Womyn
and globalization *Direct action *Nonviolence training *A
sex-positive workshop *Deep ecology/ eco-feminism
*Forced sterilization and how racism plays out in
birth control, given by Dr. Nikitah Imani
As we get confirmations and new additions they
will go up on our soon to be up Web site.
I will send out the address when it's done.
We are still taking proposals for workshops,
especially if you can do one of the above
topics. proposals/questions should be directed at
jmuequal@yahoo.com or 540-438-1369 (Kristin).
Where is it? Harrisonburg,
Va., which is 2 hours southwest of Washington, D.C.
When is it? April
1st and 2nd (registration and party, March 31st)
What else? Housing
will be provided, vegan
breakfast and lunch will be provided, a bike library will be
provided, there will be a musical
performance (possibly by bitchandanimal and/or
thea - they both rawk!) and
possibly massage therapy/energy work will
be available
How much? As of right now looks like $10
registration fee and maybe a few more for food .
. . if you cannot afford this price we still
want you to come so we will work some thing
out, just let us know!
*******************************************************
For info about the anti-tampon campaign and the
related issues go to the blood
sisters address given above
and www.seac.org/tampons
******************************************************
To support the campaign and the conference you
can buy silkscreened patches for donations
of a dollar and up by sending SASE and moola
- money - to Equal, James Madison University,
P.O. Box 8166, Harrisonburg VA 22801
Choose either "FUCKATAMPON," "ANTI-TAMPON
ask me why," or "SEX+" (for
a sex positive world)
*******************************************************
Registration Form: Please copy this form and
send it with your money to us at James Madison
University, P.O. Box 8166, Harrisonburg VA
22801 or email it back
Name:__________________________________________________
Organization:__________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:___________________________
Phone Number:____________________________
Do you need housing? ____Fri ____Sat
Do you need meals? ____Sat. Breakfast ____Sat.
Lunch____Sun. Breakfast
Do you need child care? ___________
Would you/your organization like to purchase
a literature table? __________ ($20)
Conference Costs: $8 Pre-Registration til March
2nd
Total $$$ Amount included:__________________
(or you may pay at the registration table)
Is this the new millennium or even century?
You can get the correct information
if you go to these pages published by the U S Naval Observatory:
"whenIs")
A comprehensive site from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich will put right any doubts:
Help Wanted: This Museum Needs a
Public Official For Its Board of Directors
Your MUM is doing the paper work necessary to become eligible to receive
support from foundations as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. To achieve
this status, it helps to have a American public official - an elected or
appointed official of the government, federal, state or local - on its board of directors.
What public official out there
will support a museum for the worldwide culture of
women's health and menstruation?
Eventually I would also like to entice people experienced in the law,
finances and fund raising to the board.
Do You Have Irregular Menses?
If so, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome
[and here's a support association for it].
Jane Newman, Clinical Research Coordinator at Brigham
and Women's Hospital, Harvard University School of Medicine, asked
me to tell you that
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.
Learn more about current
research on PCOS at Brigham and Women's
Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University
- or contact Jane Newman.
If you have fewer than six
periods a year, you may be eligible to participate
in the study!
New this week: Modess
"Sanitary Shield" (1972) - SheShells
underpants (1970s) - humor
© 2000 Harry Finley. It is illegal
to reproduce or distribute work on this Web site in any manner or medium
without written permission of the author. Please report suspected violations
to hfinley@mum.org