Periods on display

The silence, shame, and stigma surrounding menstruation are increasingly being challenged from various cultural domains. In a bold, comical, highly digestible book, It's About Bloody Time. Period. (2019), Emma Barnett busts taboos about menstruation. Others have focused on period poverty—the lack of access to sanitary products safe, hygienic spaces in which use them. some settings, poverty, combined with shame insufficient knowledge menstruation, can lead missing school, thus threatening girls' education. From among new wave activists stepping up address this issue came director Rayka Zehtabchi producer Melissa Berton's Oscar-winning documentary film, End Sentence. (2018), follows group young women an Indian village as they learn how operate machine that makes low-cost pads, empowering the economically challenging stigmas. And heels is book by Anita Diamant, A New Chapter Fight for Menstrual Justice (2021). Weaving together reclaimed traditions personal accounts menstruators around world, Diamant shows just much our stories matter. Now, building momentum space dedicated menstruation: exhibition entitled Periods: Brief History at Vagina Museum London, UK. One red threads running through dominance myths ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome present day. Dovetailing theme focus history medicine. Taking historical approach felt like natural step Museum, according its director, Florence Schechter. “One questions we always get ‘what did people do past their periods?'”, she told me. Under curation Sarah Creed, takes broad sweep, beginning prehistory cave art, moving medicine modern activism. As explores, menstrual blood was prescribed part medical cures but Roman Empire Pliny Elder wrote Naturalis Historia “contact [menstrual blood] turns wine sour, crops touched it become barren, grafts die, seed gardens dried up, fruit trees fall off”. This oscillation between positive negative associations persisted throughout middle ages early Europe, although framings predominated. appeared cure leprosy 12th century, yet more commonly regarded toxic, even viewed curse: physical manifestation sin Eve. Even recognisably developed, many these ideas forms. panel focuses how, 1920 Vienna, physician Béla Schick took experimental supposed toxicity blood. Participants were given bunches flowers handle when reported wilted died within 24 h. Despite having been left out water, he concluded blame. After follow-up experiments, developed theory menotoxin, poison created Scientific studies 1940s 1950s continued test menotoxin experiments animals, claims quarters until 1970s. Historically, anatomy physiology bodies vaginas neglected—for example, paucity understanding endometriosis way women's pain has seen likely emotional or psychological cause, hangover centuries theorising hysteria. whole aim redress attention. countries begin move lockdown confinement back into public museums, there tangible appreciation those spaces. “There lot power space”, explains “Immersing yourself impact person than reading it, forgetting few seconds later”, says. Indeed, work museum highlighted objects function facts add evidence told, same time understood frame subjectivity. Thus, object means different things people. Part meaning settings sensory aspects encountered experienced. fact, argue only engagement subject object—with responses, emotions, generated—that subjects come fully all; perceiving perceived real each other moment. Menstruation difficult topic collate around, depends heavily text, also displayed help create rich experience reveal who menstruate dealt periods times. most striking sphagnum moss, used be stuffed cloth aid Europe ages. Alongside 20th century replicas late-19th apron belt 1970s manikins. Having never before, encountering them gave me deeper what life menstruating before convenience tampons cups. absence telling. tells story Mary Kenner, Black American inventor designed revolutionary changeable pads 1920s, had wait 1954 patent it. then, Kenner confronted deep racial prejudice able produce her belt. Punctuating display artworks: enormous custom-made cups tampons, complete sequins glitter if defiance negativity; standing front celebration. addition such encounters objects, sharing your visitors another special quality museums. Other people's presence changes something, Schechter describes strangers often seem strike conversations one Museum. teenagers wondered whether tampon “really could lost there”, woman mid-30s stepped share wisdom. Perhaps shame-soaked taboo so long bound opening-up effect Whatever reason, clearly desire talk, channelled facilitated shared space. value collection, now threatened closure. Dedicated vaginas, vulvas, gynaecological anatomy, opened Camden Market 2019, after existed series pop-ups since 2017. museum's first stigmas popular culture aimed educate physiology. Although made lockdowns COVID-19 pandemic, lease will not renewed. They pursuing leads premises. “If don't matters resolved, won't exist end September”, posted social media. strong sense purpose bold exuberant messaging. enthusiasm I saw exhibition. team small limited resources, would exciting see larger backing. importance places particularly gendered histories, visibility bodies, movement against poverty. 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