Bring on the Flow: New Book Tackles Myths, Mysteries and Cultural History of the Menstrual Period
I'll be doing a review of this terrific new book myself soon, but I wanted to tip off readers to the publication next week of a must-read book. It's called Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation, and it's by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim. Women with thyroid disease know that menstrual period irregularities are common with thyroid conditions. We don't talk about it much, however, because of the taboos and discomfort out there talking about menstruation in general. (Thyroid disease also faces a number of taboos, so put thyroid disease together with menstrual problems, and you can end up with a total communications blackout!)
Which is why I'm so thrilled that Elissa Stein has written this book! Says Elissa: "Flow tells you where it's at about menstruation: what it is, what we've been told and how we've been sold, and what we should definitely know. It's the most natural of cycles with the most unnatural of histories. It's a funny, fascinating, and occasionally scary story of big business, advertising, feminism, gender roles, medicine, religion, world culture, and above all, good manners . . . in which every single female, young or old, will recognize her story."
To get you started, holistic gynecologist/blogger-writer Rebecca Elia, M.D. has done a terrific interview with Flow's Elissa Stein. Rebecca's interview will give you a good feel for what Flow is about!
You can compare prices for Flow on Pricegrabber, which finds the best prices at your favorite online bookstores.
Want to know more about Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation and its author Elissa Stein?
Here are some great online resources:
- Flow: Official Website
- Flow: Youtube channel (Note: don't miss the terrific series of sassy videos for the book!)
- Flow: Facebook page
- Elissa Stein's Blog
- Follow Elissa Stein on Twitter
Image: Elissa Stein
INTERESTING! I want to read this one! Thanks for the heads-up, Mary!
I am sure it;s very interesting., But really in 2009, or 89 or 69 for that matter, in the developed world, is is really realistic to say that any toboos surround the biological fiunction of menstruating any more? I don’t really think so. I mean perhaps our mothers, as young girls, might have hid the tampax box at the back of the bathroom cupboard so as not to embarrass their fathers but now it’s no longer somethign we onloy talk about to a gynecologist but something out partnbers and friends – of both genders are comfortable with.
I definitely think menstruation is still taboo, Ciara. I know many men who will not even say “menstruation” or even “period.” I know men who simply will NOT buy feminine protection products at the store — too embarrassing. And I see pre-teen girls, still embarrassed to ask questions about menstruation. So yes, in 2009, embarrassment and taboos about menstruation are, in my opinion, alive and well, and ready to be deconstructed by Elissa Stein!
Ciara, in some cultures it is considered the uncleanliness of women. Really. And the religious
thing about being cursed because women tempt men to
evil etc etc.
That’s not my view. My man buys feminine hygiene products for me without batting an eyelid. No worries there.
Are you serious Mary? I mean, do you mean in the U.S.? If so, that really really surprises me. I honestly can’t think of any man who’d be embarrassed to say the word “period.” I know men around my age do buy tampons or pads if needed for their partners and even my fahter would have, for my Mam, tho’ I can imagine he would have blushed in the process
. I mean I’d have to write down exactly what was needed – brand etc but sure I have to do that when I ask him to buy wholemeal flour or blanched almonds! And he has to specify if he wants me to get him razors or shave gel. I know pre-teen girls giggle about it among themselves (and they giggle about loads of things) but in private wil still discuss it with older sisters and mothers. That was the case even when I started mine (25 years ago). If it matters in this context, I’m in Europe – Ireland to be specific. Nonetheless I’m sure the book is very interesting.
Hi Juliet, yes I recognise that in traditional / pre-modern societies that is case but that is not so much culture in my view as ignorance or lack of education which attempts to pass as culture.
Hi, Ciara,
Yes, even here in “modern” USA where women have been “liberated” our men seem to be threatened by the whole subject of “the visitor.” I am 59, my husband is 6 months older than I, and he forbids me to utter any word in mixed company that could be remotely related to menstruation. He would never and still would not be caught dead in “that aisle” of the grocery store. We live in Indiana and I would dare to state that his view is shared by 75% of the male population, if not even more. It seems only doctors and their female patients feel comfortable speaking about this natural part of a woman’s life.
And let me say that the natural lack of menstrual symptoms is what caused my whole family (all of the females of which are plagued with hypothyroidism) missed for so long the other symptoms of hypothyroidism which my brother had. He almost died before he went to the doctor for extreme fatigue. Doctor asked him a few questions and did a few tests right there in the office and told Kevin he should be in an ambulance on his way to the hospital as they spoke, because his organs were beginning to shut down! When the ambulance arrived at the hospital 45 minutes later and discharged him to the ER, he was dying of kidney failure and heart failure. On seeing his dire condition, a brave ER physician took a chance and injected him with something based on his suspicion of extreme hypothyroidism and it turned his course around and Kevin recovered. . . but not without severe damage to his heart. His ejection fraction was 15% and the cardiologist put him on the list for a transplant. All of this because of hypothyroidism – which we missed because he was a blessed male who had no menstrual symptoms!
How can good doctors with real medical degrees fail to see the correlation between hypothyroidism and other very real life-threatening conditions?! It would make me suspect some sort of relationship if treating hypothyroidism in a patient made coronary symptoms go away!