Period. End of Sentence.
A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
From beloved New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Anita Diamant comes a timely collection of essays to help inspire period positive activism around the globe.
When Period. End of Sentence. won an Oscar in 2019, the film’s co-producer and Executive Director of The Pad Project, Melissa Berton, told the audience: “A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.” Continuing in that revolutionary spirit and building on the momentum of the acclaimed documentary, this book outlines the challenges facing those who menstruate worldwide and the solutions championed by a new generation of body positive activists, innovators and public figures.
Including interviews from people on the frontlines—parents, teachers, medical professionals, and social-justice warriors—Period. End of Sentence. illuminates the many ways that menstrual injustice can limit opportunities, erode self-esteem, and even threaten lives. This powerful examination of the far-ranging and quickly evolving movement for menstrual justice introduces today’s leaders and shows us how we can be part of the change.
Fearless, revolutionary, and fascinating, Period. End of Sentence. is an essential read for anyone interested in empowering women, girls, and others around the world.
To learn more about The Pad Project, go to ThePadProject.org.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Novelist Diamant (The Red Tent) examines all things menstrual in this expansive collection of anecdote, history, and pop culture criticism. Spurred by the documentary of the same title (a producer of which asked Diamant to write "a book about menstruation"), Diamant traces the development of "period-positive" movements that aim to recognize the "full humanity of women and girls and everyone who menstruates." In "Shame," she details harrowing stories of period-related embarrassment around the world (in New Zealand and Australia, for instance, more than half of the teenage girls interviewed said they'd rather "fail a school test than have their classmates know they're on their period"). "Period Poverty and the Tampon Tax" covers the economic toll of menstruation ("menstruators spend $17,000 during their lifetime" on period products), and "Indigenous Wisdoms" offers examples of cultures in which periods aren't shrouded in secrecy, such as the Hupa's celebratory Flower Dance. The wealth of information and anecdote can feel disjointed at times, but the effect is powerful nonetheless, and lands as a repository of information rarely in the spotlight. For young women, especially, this will provide a fascinating look back and powerful impetus to work for a shame-free future.
