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What did you call your menstrual cycle; a conversation about language, period poverty and the luxury tax

Episode 135: What did you call your menstrual cycle; a conversation about language, period poverty and the luxury tax

An exploration of the impact of cultural shaming and financial obstacles on women and their menstrual cycles.

Show notes

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt sits down with Lola Mainieri, a psychology graduate and menstrual health researcher, to explore the deep-rooted cultural shame surrounding menstruation. Lola shares how reading about the effects of birth control on the brain sparked her academic fascination with menstrual health, which led to her senior thesis examining how a person's attitude toward their period affects body image and self-objectification. Together, Amy and Lola trace the historical stigma around menstruation — from menstrual huts and food contamination myths to supernatural concepts like "mana" — and connect those ancient fears to the silence and shame that still persist today.

The conversation turns to the present-day consequences of menstrual stigma, including period poverty — the struggle many face to afford basic menstrual products. Lola highlights alarming statistics: one in four students in the U.S. can't afford period products, menstrual products are still taxed as luxury goods in many states, and widely used tampons have been found to leach harmful metals into the body. Dr. Amy and Lola discuss how these barriers drive girls out of school during their periods, the urgent need for free products in public restrooms, and the broader lack of scientific research into products designed for people who menstruate.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Hosts


Guests

Lola Mainieri

Lola Mainieri

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