Learning About What’s “Down There”: Body Image Below the Belt and Menstrual Education

Abstract

Stubbs and Sterling begin this chapter by discussing pubescent girls’ negative attitudes about their bodies ‘below the belt’ within the context of preparation for menstruation during pubertal education. As menstrual education presents mostly negative expectations for girls, the authors argue that it is a key contributor to girls’ negative attitudes about ‘down there.’ Instead, Stubbs and Sterling offer that menstrual education is a valuable opportunity to provide girls with a more accurate, positive, and embodied view of their genitals to access as they develop a sexual sense of themselves. The authors conclude with suggestions for improving this avenue of learning about ‘down there.’

Access to Menstrual Resources as a Public Health Issue in the US and Scotland

“…Overall Education refers to an individual's access to educational resources and the knowledge gleaned from these sources. Menstrual education, on the whole, leaves much to be desired (Stubbs, 2020). The stigma associated with menstruation can serve as a barrier and, if the surrounding adults lean into the prevailing discomfort around this topic, young menstruators can be left inadequately prepared for menarche (The Lancet Child Adolescent Health, 2018).…”

“…A 2018 article reported that 10% of UK 14-21 year-old girls faced period poverty which resulted in missed days at school (The Lancet Child Adolescent Health, 2018). Within the context of school-based education, Stubbs and Sterling (2020) critique the focus on 'uncontrollable hormones' and the ways in which this focus may render menstruation a non-agentic state, whereby menstruators may be placed at the mercy of their physiology (Stubbs and Sterling, 2020). The authors' overall critique lies with the highly variable nature of menstruation education; chief amongst their desires for an updated education is the repair of the rift between conversations around menstruation and those centered on reproduction.…”

“…The authors' overall critique lies with the highly variable nature of menstruation education; chief amongst their desires for an updated education is the repair of the rift between conversations around menstruation and those centered on reproduction. These, they argue, are often divorced from one another for the sake of comfort (Stubbs and Sterling 2020).…”