This thorough guide for tweens is completely inclusive, in both text and pictures, of people of all genders who have periods. With a goal to inform and empower, it’s a great choice for anyone about to start having a period, who has recently started, or who just wants to learn more about them.
Author Chella Quint says right near the beginning that “Some people who get periods do not identify as girls, and may be non-binary, gender fluid, trans guys or intersex. And some girls or women whom you may expect to have them may not ever get periods at all.” Quint, a leading expert on menstruation education in the U.K., also hopes that people other than “period owners” read it in order to help destigmatize the subject.
The first section, “The Basics,” covers anatomy (vulva and connected reproductive system), hormones, menstrual cycle phases, changes to periods over one’s lifetime, fertility and pregnancy, and more. Quint even offers alternative names for Fallopian tubes (oviducts), Bartholin’s glands (greater vestibular glands (also called glands), and Skene’s glands (paraurethral glands), which were all named after the cisgender male doctors who first wrote articles about them—none of whom had periods themselves. “A lot of people writing about periods are starting to do this, and it is a great way to work towards owning your period,” she asserts.
The second section covers “Managing Periods,” sharing information on what they may look like, what menstruating can feel like, and how to know when a pain or symptom is a problem requiring advice or assistance. It also covers healthy habits to support healthy periods, different types of menstrual products, and some sustainability considerations when choosing which products to use.
A final section espouses “Period Positivity,” looking back at myths, superstitions, and taboos around periods, the impact of the media, and how to be “a period positive consumer.” Quint offers suggestions for how to talk about periods without shame, how to navigate periods at school, and how to pass on information about periods to younger friends and family members.
Throughout the book, the bright images are of people with various gender expressions, including ones who read as masculine and nonbinary. Skin tones are likewise diverse, and there are also some same-sex couples. Quint’s upbeat but not patronizing tone feels both informative and accessible. She also shares her own relevant period experiences in sidebars, but is careful to stress the variety of different experiences that period owners may have.
The 2019 Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop Up Book, by Christian Hoeger and Kristen Lilla, is also inclusive of all genders, but feels aimed a little younger. Own Your Period offers more substantial detail all around, plus more about sustainability and about period myths (and mythbusting). I have no criticisms of either book; your choice will depend on which one you think will resonate best with your child, and you may ultimately want both.
Own Your Period was published in the U.K., but a U.S. version includes small vocabulary changes, like “oestrogen” to “estrogen,” and importantly, “torch” to “flashlight,” so that U.S. readers don’t use a flaming stick to examine their vulvas.
