The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism · Slate Podcasts

Your Period Deserves Respect

·32 min·2 clips

Kate Clancy explains why the 28-day menstrual cycle is a harmful myth that shames women for natural bodily responses.

Host Shaina Roth reflects on her personal experiences with menstrual shame and is joined by anthropologist Kate Clancy, author of the book "Period," to examine cultural attitudes. Clancy argues that Western society incorrectly views the menstrual cycle as a rigid, 28-day process and pathologizes natural variability influenced by diet, stress, or environment. She reads from her book about how older anthropological works often misinterpreted menstrual taboos as universal attempts to contain pollution, aligning with Western views. Clancy notes that in many cultures, menstruation can be a sacred time for community, rest, or eating special foods, not solely a negative event. She cites pop culture examples like "Superbad" and "Carrie" that perpetuate embarrassment, while acknowledging newer, more positive depictions in shows like "I May Destroy You" and "The Last of Us." Clancy explains that shame impacts healthcare, referencing studies where male pediatricians are less likely to discuss menstruation or know about safe tampon use than female pediatricians. She states that research on conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, and chronic pelvic pain is severely underfunded compared to other areas. For gender minorities who menstruate, Clancy points to emerging research showing a range of experiences from empowerment to gender dysphoria. She advocates for "de-gendering" menstruation by using precise language like "people with uteruses" to improve accuracy and inclusion. Clancy connects the lack of diverse researchers to systemic issues in science, referencing her own research on sexual harassment where about three-quarters of women and an even higher proportion of LGBTQ+ individuals report such experiences. She emphasizes that subtle, frequent slights can be more damaging than obvious harassment, eroding a person's sense of belonging in science. The episode maintains a conversational and educational tone, blending personal anecdote with research-based discussion. Listeners interested in feminism, cultural anthropology, or public health will find this episode compelling, while those seeking light entertainment may find the subject matter too niche.

As heard by us

A careful conversation about menstruation that uses inclusive language to sharpen the point.

The Waves treats menstruation as both personal and social, and it keeps asking who gets centered in that conversation and who gets left out. Rather than leaning on the familiar book-or-movie version of a first period as a dramatic rite of passage, it looks at the topic with more…

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Want a period conversation that treats language as seriously as biology?

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