Lunapads Blog

I’d better write this post before the pile of books on my desk topples over on me! We have had a wonderful “influx” of books and zines at Lunapads recently and I’d like to tell you about some of them, as well as give some away – read on…

I can’t remember how many months ago it was exactly that I received an email from University of Massachusetts Women’s Studies professor Chris Bobel asking for help with finding artwork for the cover of her then-upcoming tome,  New Blood: Third-Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation, but I was instantly inspired to offer to have a contest asking customers for images based on the theme of menstrual activism. Helena Gonzalez Saez emerged as the winner from among over a dozen fascinating and inspiring submissions (and check this: Helena donated her $100 gift certificate prize to Pads4Girls, how cool is that?), and we received the finished book just a few weeks ago.

“Ask better questions… demand better answers!” reads Chris’s handwritten inscription in our copy – it’s a good summary of the book as well. While I am still working my way through it, overall the book is leaving me feeling more informed, inspired and grateful than ever for the work of our menstrual activist predecessors and contemporaries. Of particular interest for me are questions she poses around how menstruation’s meaning is changing in the era of gender politics: for example, what happens to discourse around menstruation when gender as a fixed, binary concept is a quaint, distant notion?

While its academic heft may be a bit OTT for recreational enthusiasts, I found it to be a welcome counterpoint to the more cursory, pop cultural approach taken to menstrual matters in recent offerings such as Elissa Stein’s Flow. Chris also has some kind words to say about Lunapads (both product and company), and included a Lunapads print ad that appeared in BUST magazine in the book, for which we feel deeply honored.

Speaking of menstrual activism, my second pick is a fine example. Fans of feminist indie zines will love Jen Vaughn’s comix Menstruation Station and Don’t Hate, Menstruate. The author of the acclaimed Mermaid Hostel is a major Lunapads fan, and we are pleased to report that it’s entirely mutual.

So… the giveaway. I have 2 copies of New Blood, as well as 10 sets of both of Jen Vaughn’s zines to give away. Let us know which you’d prefer to receive, as well as a few words about what menstrual activism means to you. Are you an aspiring menstrual activist? Just curious? A seasoned veteran with stories to share? Tell us for your chance to win! Winners will be announced in the September newsletter.

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Greetings Period Fans!

You all remember the little art contest we held for Chris Bobel’s upcoming book “New Blood: Third Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation” Buzz is building for the book, due out in spring of 2010 and we cant wait to get our little mittens on a copy. Check out this interview with the author on Our Bodies, Our Blog to see what the book covers.

And, as if one book dedicated to our favourite topic wasn’t enough to get us excited, we’ve just discovered the impending release of another period-centric book; “FLOW: A Cultural Story of Menstruation.” According to the books website;“Flow tells you where it’s at about menstruation: what it is, what we’ve been told and how we’ve been sold, and what we should definitely know. It’s the most natural of cycles with the most unnatural of histories. It’s a funny, fascinating, and occasionally scary story of big business, advertising, feminism, gender roles, medicine, religion, world culture, and above all, good manners . . . in which every single female, young or old, will recognize her story.”

Sounds pretty good right? The new book by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim will hit stores November 10th and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com now. Order now and it might just arrive in time for your next period, perfect reading for those Heavy Pad days. It definitely looks like a fun read with loads of menstrual trivia and facty-bits. For Instance:

Check back here in the coming weeks for our review of FLOW. We might just have a free copy for one of our lucky readers too.

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We clearly have some very talented customers, evident by the fantastic artwork below. So without further ado, here are the submissions to ours and Chris Bobel’s New Blood: Third Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation book cover contest! (details here)

The winning artist is Helena Gonzales Saez, whose five entries can be viewed below. Helena will receive a $100 gift certificate to use at Lunapads.com. Great work, everyone! Many thanks to all who participated.

What are your favourites?

Click thumbnail to view full size:
(hover over image for artist’s name)

1st Row Caroline Mellor, Helena Gonzales Saez, Helena Gonzales Saez, Amy Gerein • 2nd Row Catherine Young, Patricia van Asperen, Natasha Clayton, Alysha Wilson • 3rd Row Leni Goggins & Brandy Vincent, Helena Gonzales Saez, Natasha Clayton, Patricia van Asperen • 4th Row Michelle Smith, Helena Gonzales Saez, Helena Gonzales Saez

For more information about Chris and her book, check out A Discussion of Menstrual Activism with Chris Bobel at ourbodiesourblog.org.

Update: Helena has graciously offered to donate her $100 gift certificate to our Pad4Girls program. Thank you, Helena! Your generosity is truly inspirational.  Click on donate pads to make your own contribution to girls and women in developing countries!

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