In this newsletter: still struck by the loss of Sinead O'Conner, period products tested with saline (ridiculous!!), a miracle plant from ancient Rome that has (maybe?) been rediscovered, the gorgeous Japanese edition of my book, and so much more!
I am so angry after reading about that little girl who was raped and had a baby...I can’t even express my feelings about it. So...I will comment on another topic.
I am 72...20 years past menopause. Period underwear was not around when I had a period, but I can’t imagine how it would have worked for me (I always had a heavy flow). But also...I read something in an ad about washing this underwear in the machine...I would imagine that one would have to wash items first by hand in the sink beforehand. I don’t know...it doesn’t seem like a fabulous option to me!
In re: hating women/ignorance of our bodies: In 2012, Virginia proposed women seeking an abortion get a “trans-vaginal” ultrasound. One state rep, male, in particular went hard on it...until he went home and absorbed a full-body blast from his wife, who asked him why the hell he thought it necessary to force raped women to accept a metal probe into their vaginas in order to check a box pre-abortion. He at least had the guts to admit this on the floor. He had thought the process just another ultrasound, where the scanner stays outside the body. As he explained this on TV, you could see the recognition dawn in the eyes of his (mostly) male colleagues.
They control our bodies and they can’t be bothered to learn how they work.
I had a medical need for a trans-vaginal ultrasound & it was mostly uncomfortable but tolerable. I can’t imagine having to have it for no reason and after being raped.
Thanks for all the enlightening information, as usual. While I can’t say I’m shocked, I am depressed and frightened. I don’t understand how this minority group of conservatives retain so much power. It’s mind-boggling.
On a lighter note, you look gorgeous. That suit, wow!
I am so glad you personally approved the German cover for your book! Germans are soooo bad regarding book covers. Just compare Eve Rodskys „fair play“ to the German version of her book, it is so so so hideous (showing a helpless man holding an flat iron). I messaged her about it and she was shocked about it!
It’s actually my pet peeve, I started collecting bad German covers and book titles which are sometimes even contrary to what’s portrayed in the book…
On the period blood (not water), its another thing where menstrual cups are super helpful because they often have measurements on the side so you can see how many ml and give a pretty accurate number.
Yes. I’ve been thinking how this is such a progression. Doctors asking about how many pads used (to determine flow) seems so inaccurate and ignorant (especially in medicine). I read something that said menstrual cups should change all perceptions about ‘average’ flow.
Your renovations are inspiring on so many levels, but I particularly love how you re-use and recycle materials in a way that's affordable, eco-conscious, and chic!
I too took Sinead's death hard, for all the reasons you mention ... plus one more. Some media outlets and gossip rags implied that Sinead's death was caused by grief over her son's suicide. Like her, I have a son who has struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. The implication that a mother can't (or shouldn't) survive a child's suicide — that the grief and guilt are a burden too difficult to bear — has been with us for a long time. And as my therapist has tried to convince me, it's not doing any of us any favors.
I'll always feel responsible in some way for my kid's struggle with depression, if only because there's a family history on my side, but I'm trying to acknowledge that we each have our own journey in life. Pinning Sinead's own mental health struggles on her's son's "outcome" is not only unfair to them both, it distracts from the wealth of societal inequities to which she was subjected early in her life and career.
“Our culture absolutely detests and devalues women’s bodies and goes out of our way to avoid learning about them.”
I agree with this statement, and I wonder if you feel the same is true in France?
I remember reading an interview with Tina Turner a long time ago when she lived in France saying something like America was no place for an older woman.
While I found the death of Sinead O’Connor sad, it didn’t hit me quite so hard. I hadn’t really heard much about her for years until recently because it is her voice singing The Skye Boat Song that plays at the beginning of each episode of Outlander in the 7th season.
I can't tell you how often I've vented lately about the lack of research on women's bodies and issues. It's baffling how little we know about our own bodies and functions, and also how dismissive the medical professionals are about our discomfort and pain. Infuriating.
I am so angry after reading about that little girl who was raped and had a baby...I can’t even express my feelings about it. So...I will comment on another topic.
I am 72...20 years past menopause. Period underwear was not around when I had a period, but I can’t imagine how it would have worked for me (I always had a heavy flow). But also...I read something in an ad about washing this underwear in the machine...I would imagine that one would have to wash items first by hand in the sink beforehand. I don’t know...it doesn’t seem like a fabulous option to me!
Just an observation!
In re: hating women/ignorance of our bodies: In 2012, Virginia proposed women seeking an abortion get a “trans-vaginal” ultrasound. One state rep, male, in particular went hard on it...until he went home and absorbed a full-body blast from his wife, who asked him why the hell he thought it necessary to force raped women to accept a metal probe into their vaginas in order to check a box pre-abortion. He at least had the guts to admit this on the floor. He had thought the process just another ultrasound, where the scanner stays outside the body. As he explained this on TV, you could see the recognition dawn in the eyes of his (mostly) male colleagues.
They control our bodies and they can’t be bothered to learn how they work.
I had a medical need for a trans-vaginal ultrasound & it was mostly uncomfortable but tolerable. I can’t imagine having to have it for no reason and after being raped.
Thanks for all the enlightening information, as usual. While I can’t say I’m shocked, I am depressed and frightened. I don’t understand how this minority group of conservatives retain so much power. It’s mind-boggling.
On a lighter note, you look gorgeous. That suit, wow!
I am so glad you personally approved the German cover for your book! Germans are soooo bad regarding book covers. Just compare Eve Rodskys „fair play“ to the German version of her book, it is so so so hideous (showing a helpless man holding an flat iron). I messaged her about it and she was shocked about it!
It’s actually my pet peeve, I started collecting bad German covers and book titles which are sometimes even contrary to what’s portrayed in the book…
Happily, the book cover of the German edition is an adaptation of the original cover (which I love!)
On the period blood (not water), its another thing where menstrual cups are super helpful because they often have measurements on the side so you can see how many ml and give a pretty accurate number.
Yes. I’ve been thinking how this is such a progression. Doctors asking about how many pads used (to determine flow) seems so inaccurate and ignorant (especially in medicine). I read something that said menstrual cups should change all perceptions about ‘average’ flow.
Your renovations are inspiring on so many levels, but I particularly love how you re-use and recycle materials in a way that's affordable, eco-conscious, and chic!
I too took Sinead's death hard, for all the reasons you mention ... plus one more. Some media outlets and gossip rags implied that Sinead's death was caused by grief over her son's suicide. Like her, I have a son who has struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. The implication that a mother can't (or shouldn't) survive a child's suicide — that the grief and guilt are a burden too difficult to bear — has been with us for a long time. And as my therapist has tried to convince me, it's not doing any of us any favors.
I'll always feel responsible in some way for my kid's struggle with depression, if only because there's a family history on my side, but I'm trying to acknowledge that we each have our own journey in life. Pinning Sinead's own mental health struggles on her's son's "outcome" is not only unfair to them both, it distracts from the wealth of societal inequities to which she was subjected early in her life and career.
“Our culture absolutely detests and devalues women’s bodies and goes out of our way to avoid learning about them.”
I agree with this statement, and I wonder if you feel the same is true in France?
I remember reading an interview with Tina Turner a long time ago when she lived in France saying something like America was no place for an older woman.
I would add that I think our culture is also obsessed with women’s bodies as well.
While I found the death of Sinead O’Connor sad, it didn’t hit me quite so hard. I hadn’t really heard much about her for years until recently because it is her voice singing The Skye Boat Song that plays at the beginning of each episode of Outlander in the 7th season.
Good job 👏
I can't tell you how often I've vented lately about the lack of research on women's bodies and issues. It's baffling how little we know about our own bodies and functions, and also how dismissive the medical professionals are about our discomfort and pain. Infuriating.