GIRLS IN POWER -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- 1. Introduction -- MENSTRUATION IS . . . -- SALIENT BODY EXPERIENCES -- THE TEEN PARTICIPANTS -- THE INTERVIEWERS -- ANALYSIS OF THE DATA -- ORGANIZATION OF THIS BOOK -- 2. Negative and Ambivalent Experiences -- CONCEALMENT AND SHAME -- THE HORRORS OF LEAKING -- "WHY I NEVER CARRY A PURSE" -- THE BODY AS ACTOR -- WHAT IF IT GETS STUCK? -- TAMPAX ADS IN A ROOM FULL OF BOYS -- THE CHECKOUT BOY -- "SURFIN' THE CRIMSON WAVE" -- "IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL" -- 3. Cultural Contexts -- CULTURAL HISTORY OF MENSTRUATION -- CONCEALMENT AND HYGIENE -- TABOOS -- CONTEMPORARY VIEWS AND ADVICE -- HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE -- SCHOOLS -- THE FAMILY -- MEDIA, ADVERTISING, AND MERCHANDISING -- 4. Medicalization and Gender Politics of the Body -- MEDICALIZATION OF MENSTRUATION -- FIFTH-GRADE HEALTH CLASS -- MENSTRUATION AS A REPRODUCTIVE ISSUE -- WHAT ABOUT THE BLOOD? -- EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOREVER AND EVER -- MENSTRUAL SUPPRESSION? -- THE VALUE OF FEMALE BODIES -- WHAT IF MEN COULD MENSTRUATE? -- UNDERSTANDING GENDER -- LIVING IN OUR BODIES -- 5. Girls in Power -- AGENCY AND POWER -- CREATIVELY RESPONDING TO DOMINANT SOCIAL NORMS -- FORGING CONNECTIONS -- "I DON'T THINK BOYS COULD HANDLE IT" -- MENSTRUATION IS SOCIAL -- GETTING "IT" -- STORIES AND SUPPORTIVE TALK -- WHAT'S NORMAL -- HOW EMBARRASSING! -- BUT ADULTS DON'T TALK THIS WAY! -- INTERVIEWING IN COMMUNITY GROUPS -- ISN'T MENSTRUATION A PERSONAL EVENT? -- "WE SHOULD JUST CREATE A WOMEN'S STORE" -- 6. Boys' Responses -- KNOWLEDGE IS POWER -- BLAMING MENSTRUATION -- "GROSSING THEM OUT" -- MENSTRUATION AS A SEXUAL ISSUE -- BOYS' JOKES -- WHO HAS THE POWER? -- EMBARRASSING AND TEASING GIRLS -- GIRLS' ADVANTAGES -- EXPRESSING POWER:SECOND AND THIRD WAVE FEMINISM -- POTENTIAL FOR MANIPULATION -- ALTERNATE RESPONSES BY BOYS.

"MY FRIEND KRISTIN EXPLAINED . . ." -- BEEF JERKY -- Conclusion: Bodies in Interaction -- THE TEENS' CONCLUDING THOUGHTS -- DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS -- SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND GENDERED POWER -- MENSTRUAL CELEBRATIONS -- REFLECTIONS ON RESEARCH METHODS -- CONCLUSION -- APPENDIX A: Participants in Individualand Group Interviews -- GIRLS -- BOYS -- APPENDIX B: Interview Guides -- INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS -- GROUP INTERVIEWS -- Notes -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- Z.