Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Took me bloody ages to read it but it was a very important read!
“We can’t continue as a human race without periods - and yet we still can’t acknowledge their existence.”
I was so excited to learn there was a book being published about periods and even more excited that my (male) partner brought it to my attention. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the book.
I did enjoy this book. It was well researched, covering a wide range of topics related to periods and menstruation. It didn’t entirely focus on white feminism, although most of the book did, and I was glad to see it. That said, there were parts of white feminism that I was shocked by - we’re so “used to” imagining period poverty in the third world that we don’t realise it’s happening here too. I did wish we had gotten more non-white feminism though.
I liked a lot of the anecdotes the book offered. Although much of it is personal, the author has clearly spoken to other people to see where their expectations, experiences and opinions differ from hers. A lot of them were included to demonstrate a point and some were for humour purposes - which was amazing. Periods, for all the pain and upset they cause, can be funny! It makes the book and topic relatable, so hopefully more people could find it accessible.
Unfortunately, I was surprised to find I already knew a lot of the stuff that was covered in the book. That, of course, is no fault of the author, but maybe a reflection on the fact I’ve already tried to educate myself? Well, maybe it was just I knew the general information but not the specifics. I was also surprised by how some stuff had stayed the same since this was written and some had changed; for example, tampon tax: soon to be abolished on all non-reusable period products - but stigma involving period products (particularly reusable ones)? I still haven’t seen them on the tv.
Again, no fault of the author, but I wish she’d covered more of the alternative period products. I want to say it’s because sustainable periods weren’t a “thing” when she was writing it, but it’s definitely not true. She talks about Thinx and WUKA, albeit briefly, focusing for a paragraph or two on Thinx’s period sex blanket. Now, I knew sustainable periods were a thing by this point, and I wasn’t writing a book about periods, because I’d been using Thinx for months when the blanket came out. Plus, I don’t even remember the author mentioning menstrual cups once? This might not have been a problem had I not already been frustrated by her relationship towards pads and tampons at this point - heralding tampons as the superior products and condemning pads as these almost archaic torture devices. I’ve been told it was for humour purposes, but it just ended up feeling a bit judgey to me.
This was the first pick for my feminist book club: Tits, Dicks and Feminist Bits. I was grateful that the book prompted so many questions and sparked so many discussions, both about the book and periods generally.
I was so excited to learn there was a book being published about periods and even more excited that my (male) partner brought it to my attention. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the book.
I did enjoy this book. It was well researched, covering a wide range of topics related to periods and menstruation. It didn’t entirely focus on white feminism, although most of the book did, and I was glad to see it. That said, there were parts of white feminism that I was shocked by - we’re so “used to” imagining period poverty in the third world that we don’t realise it’s happening here too. I did wish we had gotten more non-white feminism though.
I liked a lot of the anecdotes the book offered. Although much of it is personal, the author has clearly spoken to other people to see where their expectations, experiences and opinions differ from hers. A lot of them were included to demonstrate a point and some were for humour purposes - which was amazing. Periods, for all the pain and upset they cause, can be funny! It makes the book and topic relatable, so hopefully more people could find it accessible.
Unfortunately, I was surprised to find I already knew a lot of the stuff that was covered in the book. That, of course, is no fault of the author, but maybe a reflection on the fact I’ve already tried to educate myself? Well, maybe it was just I knew the general information but not the specifics. I was also surprised by how some stuff had stayed the same since this was written and some had changed; for example, tampon tax: soon to be abolished on all non-reusable period products - but stigma involving period products (particularly reusable ones)? I still haven’t seen them on the tv.
Again, no fault of the author, but I wish she’d covered more of the alternative period products. I want to say it’s because sustainable periods weren’t a “thing” when she was writing it, but it’s definitely not true. She talks about Thinx and WUKA, albeit briefly, focusing for a paragraph or two on Thinx’s period sex blanket. Now, I knew sustainable periods were a thing by this point, and I wasn’t writing a book about periods, because I’d been using Thinx for months when the blanket came out. Plus, I don’t even remember the author mentioning menstrual cups once? This might not have been a problem had I not already been frustrated by her relationship towards pads and tampons at this point - heralding tampons as the superior products and condemning pads as these almost archaic torture devices. I’ve been told it was for humour purposes, but it just ended up feeling a bit judgey to me.
This was the first pick for my feminist book club: Tits, Dicks and Feminist Bits. I was grateful that the book prompted so many questions and sparked so many discussions, both about the book and periods generally.
It’s actually a miracle that I’ve finished this book. The subject matter infuriated me and initiated a lot of conversations both with my boyfriend and girlfriends with me desperate to get their thoughts and stance on certain issues raised by Barnett.
There is still so much to do to rid society of the shame and silence around something that should feel so mundane and normal.
The fact that humans who bleed are regarded as "unclean" and "dirty" in some cultures when they are menstruating, or that some people feel they are bound to some kind of sex debt to their partner, even today… exasperates me.
After my own experiences, I’m a big advocate on improving education for young people around periods and also ensuring EVERYONE who needs sanitary products has access to them - issues which are both explored in some depth in this book.
I’m definitely an oversharer at times, especially when it comes to my period, but honestly after reading this… I. NEVER. WANT. TO. STOP. TALKING. ABOUT THEM.
There is still so much to do to rid society of the shame and silence around something that should feel so mundane and normal.
The fact that humans who bleed are regarded as "unclean" and "dirty" in some cultures when they are menstruating, or that some people feel they are bound to some kind of sex debt to their partner, even today… exasperates me.
After my own experiences, I’m a big advocate on improving education for young people around periods and also ensuring EVERYONE who needs sanitary products has access to them - issues which are both explored in some depth in this book.
I’m definitely an oversharer at times, especially when it comes to my period, but honestly after reading this… I. NEVER. WANT. TO. STOP. TALKING. ABOUT THEM.
Yes this book was funny. Hilarious yes at times. But it was definitely information heavy lots of statistics and dates, that kinda thing. Barnett writes witty but I’d love more stories from real people. Maybe for her next book?
I would recommend however if you have periods or not it’s very insightful.
I would recommend however if you have periods or not it’s very insightful.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Have you ever heard of the euphemism "riding the cotton unicorn"?
I hadn't - and it just one of the myriad of phrases used to describe what is essentially a very normal biological phenomenon: a period. In "It's About Bloody Time, Period.", journalist Emma Barnett sets out to smash the stigma surrounding menstruation. With each chapter labelled after a different menstrual aspect - "first" blood, to "holy" blood, to "no" blood - Barnett addresses the socio-cultural constraints and eventual devastating consequences of history having attempted to sweep periods under the rug - the implication that it is something "dirty", "cursed" or "unhygienic" - when it is anything but. Delivered in a witty, and at times, defiant, tone, Barnett reminds the reader that this is something HALF of the world's population experiences on a monthly basis, and yet only when discussing sexual and biological function, women are primarily targeted by societal shaming.
I absolutely loved this book. Barnett's candor at discussing both hilarious accounts - such as influential men's squeamishness or inability to say the word "tampon" - to more serious issues - such as period poverty - engaged me fully as the reader. I was not aware, for example, that financial restrictions prevent women and girls in both developing and developed countries, from purchasing period products, and as a result, limiting their ability to participate in education and work. All because of the societal hush-hush surrounding even the slightest glimpse of something normal on a woman's pants. She also reminds us that not all women menstruate, and that not all those menstruate are, or identify as, women. Enlightening, infuriating, and downright audacious, Barnett's book is so relevant, and so telling of the world and the values it places on individuals whose lives are shaped by a perfectly normal bodily function.
Amazing. Must read.
I hadn't - and it just one of the myriad of phrases used to describe what is essentially a very normal biological phenomenon: a period. In "It's About Bloody Time, Period.", journalist Emma Barnett sets out to smash the stigma surrounding menstruation. With each chapter labelled after a different menstrual aspect - "first" blood, to "holy" blood, to "no" blood - Barnett addresses the socio-cultural constraints and eventual devastating consequences of history having attempted to sweep periods under the rug - the implication that it is something "dirty", "cursed" or "unhygienic" - when it is anything but. Delivered in a witty, and at times, defiant, tone, Barnett reminds the reader that this is something HALF of the world's population experiences on a monthly basis, and yet only when discussing sexual and biological function, women are primarily targeted by societal shaming.
I absolutely loved this book. Barnett's candor at discussing both hilarious accounts - such as influential men's squeamishness or inability to say the word "tampon" - to more serious issues - such as period poverty - engaged me fully as the reader. I was not aware, for example, that financial restrictions prevent women and girls in both developing and developed countries, from purchasing period products, and as a result, limiting their ability to participate in education and work. All because of the societal hush-hush surrounding even the slightest glimpse of something normal on a woman's pants. She also reminds us that not all women menstruate, and that not all those menstruate are, or identify as, women. Enlightening, infuriating, and downright audacious, Barnett's book is so relevant, and so telling of the world and the values it places on individuals whose lives are shaped by a perfectly normal bodily function.
Amazing. Must read.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced