Breaking The Menstruation Taboo

Fresh Air

NPR

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture, Books

4.4 • 34.4K Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2023

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

More than half of the population menstruates, and yet there is still so much shame and stigma surrounding what is a normal part of life. We talk with filmmaker Lina Lyte Plioplyte about her new documentary Periodical. The film looks at the origins of the cultural stigma around periods. We also talk about period poverty, taxation on menstrual products, and reframing how we think about menopause.
The documentary is streaming on Peacock and airing on MSNBC.  

Also, Maureen Corrigan shares her picks for the 10 best books of the year.

Transcript

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0:10.6	conversation.
0:11.6	Hey, it's Brittany Loose from NPR's It's Been a Minute Podcast.
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0:40.0	slash network. This is Frisher. I'm Tanya Mosley. How did menstrual periods a natural monthly
0:46.5	occurrence for more than half of the population become so taboo?
0:51.0	Periods.
0:52.0	Hmm, periods. taboo. Periods.
0:54.0	My palms are sweaty.
0:58.0	I feel awkward about it because it's really weird.
1:01.0	Like there's a reason if you like cut yourself
1:04.3	then it starts bleeding, but I don't really think
1:06.2	there's a reason if you just start bleeding from your private.
1:09.1	I'm kind of nervous speaking about periods,
1:11.6	to be honest.
1:12.6	Well I call my period my evil best friend because she always come on time.
1:17.0	She gave me a hard time and sometimes I'm happy to see her if you know what I mean.
	...

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