Welcome to the April 2021 issue of the PAD Monthly Digital Magazine! Check out our social media and let us know what you think of this month's issue!
Period Activists at ‘Deis (PAD) fights for menstrual justice and seeks to uplift the voices of all menstruators. We strive to facilitate access to menstrual products and education, dismantle the menstrual stigma, and advocate for policies that protect the rights of menstruators.
PAD EXECUTIVE BOARD: Cassady Adams, Sydney Carim, Ilana Feldman, Savannah Jackson, Hunter Kessous, Madison Leifer, Kyla Speizer
The War Inside of Me
My insides are a powder keg,
The aftermath of something deadly
And yet somehow I am still alive
I don’t want to admit to being a fighter,
The mother of a war
I didn’t want to enter
I want to eat what I want
Do what I want
But I can never tell
If I’ve ingested a bomb
And sometimes I find out the next day
And I wake up to my insides shattering
Tiny explosions are everywhere
With no physical explanations
The ruins are silent
Like walking through an empty field into nothingness
Except the field
Is stained with the imaginary blood and yearning
of a body I once took for granted.
And so I mourn
And swallow my pride
Five different types of medications later
And I think that maybe -this time- I will feel better
Health is a dream;
An unattainable goal
And so I run,
Hide under the covers
Burn my abdomen with heat
And I whisper the lie that soothes me to sleep:
Maybe tomorrow will be better.
JOELLE H GALATAN
My Battle with Endometriosis
PAD reached out to Katharina after we fell in love with her incredible feminist art on Instagram. We sent her the following questions to understand her inspiration and what feminism means to her! She sent us her answers as well as a few of her pieces which you can see here.
1. Where are you from?
I am from Austria and live in Vienna right now.
2. What is the meaning behind these pieces of art?
This piece (TOP) is inspired by the woman I drew (@vibrabydania) and about female strength. In my art I try to convey power and self-love. I want to show that every person and every body type is beautiful, powerful and natural.
This piece (BOTTOM) is about the menstruation. It is also very important to me to show and talk about topics that are taboo, because I want to break this stigma. I want to create a space for everyone to feel comfortable to talk about these topics.
3. What inspires you to create your art?
My inspiration is partly my anger against the patriarchy and even more strong people-especially women, non binary and queer people.
4. What does menstrual justice/feminism mean to you?
Feminism for me is fighting for equality for all marginalized and discriminated groups. Feminism must be intersectional.
5. What message do you hope people get from your art?
I hope that my art helps people with their journey of self-love. I hope that people feel less alone, that they feel seen and beautiful. I also hope that it starts a conversation and creates a safe space.
6. Is there anything else you want to add?
Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview and for your time and space for me and my art. I really appreciate it!
Katharina's Instagram: @katharina.lorenz
ARTIST FEATURE: Katharina Lorenz
trapped
Evie Krislov
MENSTRUAL BLOOD THE BLOOD OF LIFE
Sydney Carim
it's raining men(ses)
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Hunter Kessous
period art and Activism
Period art is quickly becoming an appreciated art form, with menstruating and non-menstruating artists alike finally gaining recognition for the work they do to bring discussions of periods into art. Though this may seem like a fun, flashy trend within the art world, period art is so much more than that. It is essential to the foundation of the menstrual justice movement, and it can be used as an important strategy to help the movement achieve its goals.
Period art, which is the umbrella term for any form of art that touches upon menstruation, has its roots within the rise of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1970’s. Artist Judy Chicago is credited as one of the first artists to successfully showcase this type of art to the general public, providing a fiery start to the menstrual art movement that proceeded. Whether or not period artists are aware of it, their creation of period art draws upon important social justice strategies that have been recognized by sociologists world wide. These strategies come in three main forms:
Counter-Story Telling:
This strategy is one that is important to any social justice movement, and it is an extremely effective method of activism. Counter-story telling occurs when people on society’s margins challenge and analyze “majoritarian stories”, or the narratives created by the most privileged demographic, which is typically regarded as the default. By telling these stories, marginalized folks are pushing back against what is considered “normal” or “true”. This can be seen within much of period art, where artists are pushing back against the common understandings of menstruation and rewriting the narrative to smash stigma and encourage action.
Testifying:
Testifying: This strategy is similar to Counter-Story Telling, but it is specific to one individual. Rather than telling the story of an entire community or speaking on behalf of a larger group, the storyteller decides to share a more personal narrative that reflects their individual experiences. This type of storytelling can often be extremely emotional and persuasive, making it a common strategy used within period art.
Narrative Building:
Narrative Building: It is important for any movement to have a succinct and common narrative regarding what issues they are focusing on and what methods they would like to use to address those issues. Period art in particular is really helpful for building this shared narrative, evoking common themes and messages to bring the various aims of menstrual justice under one movement. Some of the most common themes are listed below:
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Periods are beautiful!
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Periods are valuable
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Inclusivity of ALL menstruators, no matter gender identity
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Education about the truths of menstruation and accompanying diseases, like endometriosis, PMDD, and others
These social justice strategies and their use within period art has been an essential part of the menstrual justice movement. The significance of period art to this movement is invaluable, and I hope that the art you see within this magazine will inspire you to create, making not only art, but making change.
Sydney Carim
LABELS
Cassady Adams
Paint and policy night painting collection
We had an event this month where we got together and talked about the menstrual justice movement and current policy changes and advocacy while painting beautiful menstruation-related art! Here are some of the pieces from our members!
PAD ADVICE COLUMN
1. Do tampons make your cramps worse or make your period last longer?
Some people say that because tampons rest inside your vagina and soak up menstrual blood, they can block menstrual flow and slightly extend the duration of menstrual bleeding. However, experts do not agree about whether menstrual products actually affect menstruation in this way. Similarly, although some menstruators say that they experience worse cramps when using tampons or menstrual cups, there is no scientific research that demonstrates that this is true. If you are experiencing regular or worse pain while wearing tampons, try switching to a pad or menstrual cup instead, or reach out to a healthcare provider to explore different options and possible causes and solutions.
3. What products should I try if I have a really sensitive vulva?
Did you know that the FDA does NOT require brands to disclose what materials are included in their menstrual products? The vagina naturally cleans itself, so any products that are scented or include chemicals are not only unnecessary, but increase the risk for irritation and infection. We would recommend that everyone steer clear of scented menstrual products, but if you have an especially sensitive vulva, you might also prefer to look for 100% cotton products. Fortunately, there is a growing number of brands that sell completely organic (aka free of things like fragrance, chemicals, chlorine, dyes) pads and tampons, such as L., Honey Pot, and Lola. Feel free to reach out to us if you’re looking for more information.
2. Do my boobs actually get bigger while I’m on my period?
Many menstruators experience breast swelling or tenderness in the week leading up to their period. This is because the body produces the most estrogen at this point in the menstrual cycle and this causes the breast ducts to grow. Progesterone levels also peak around this time and cause the milk ducts to grow. Breast tenderness and growth is usually most intense right before the start of the period, and should subside during or immediately after the menstrual period ends. Some menstruators experience mild symptoms, while for others the pain and size change may be more intense. Breast swelling and tenderness is totally normal, but if you notice new lumps, nipple discharge, or the pain interferes with your daily life, you should contact your health provider.
4. What is spotting and why does it happen?
Spotting refers to any bleeding that happens outside of your menstrual period (aka, not the light bleeding you might experience near the beginning or end of your period). Spotting blood is not the same uterine shedding you experience during your period, and it can come from your uterus, cervix, or vagina. Some common causes of spotting include hormonal contraception, early pregnancy, pelvic or urinary infections, and ovulation. The causes of spotting are different in each of these situations. If you are regularly experiencing spotting after having sex, in the middle of your menstrual cycle, or several months after starting a new form of birth control, you should contact your healthcare provider.
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