Period. A Girl’s Guide
By JoAnn Loulan and Bonnie Worthen. Minnesota: Book Peddlers, 2001, 76pp.
Reviewed by Abigail Skillman, B.S., Loyola College, Baltimore, MD
Period. A Girls Guide by JoAnn Loulan and Bonnie Worthen addresses the difficult and sometimes awkward topics of female adolescent physical development and menstruation. The pioneering first edition was written during the seventies, and was the first book to speak directly to young girls about their changing bodies. Subsequent editions have been released to meet the needs of changing generations, but remains true to its commitment of opening pathways of communication and answering the often unspoken questions of female adolescence.
This book was designed for girls ages eight and up. Due to the authors’ writing style, however, there is a window of opportunity in which the book will be most effective. The parents must ensure that their daughter is mature enough to understand the basic biological concepts behind reproduction. However, they do not want to wait too long, as the majority of the book is designed to help girls prepare for their first period and much of the value of the book may be lost after menses. While eight is the suggested age of introduction, parents should consider the development and maturity of their individual child.
Since the original publication of Period. in 1979, bookstore shelves have been flooded with similar texts, all attempting to support and guide the adolescent female through development. However, there are several strengths of Period. which set it apart from the others. First, Period. takes a very multicultural approach. The illustrations depict girls of multiple races, cultures, and physical capabilities. This broad perspective allows a diverse group of girls to personalize and identify with the material. It aids girls in understanding that what is happening in their bodies is unique to them yet at the same time universal. Second, the material in Period. is medically accurate yet written age appropriately. It finds a perfect balance between dispelling childhood myths and not swamping the reader with biological terms. The diagrams are also perfectly balanced as they are informative without being overly harsh or intimidating.
Another notable strength of Period. is the overarching theme that development is normal, healthy, and that all women go through it. Likewise, the authors are committed to making readers feel that whatever stage of development the reader is in, is the perfect stage for them. They mention that breasts don’t always grow symmetrically, that your friends may get their periods before or after you, and that all of that is perfectly wonderful because it is unique to your body. Period. serves as an excellent introduction for young girls because it reduces anxiety while increasing positive self image.
In addition to its multiculturalism, appropriate language, and positive messages, a tremendous asset of Period. is its practical advice and tips on the everyday awkward situations that can arise when a girl is adjusting to menstruation. The authors include tips such as trying a pad for a few days before the period begins, so that girls are more comfortable and experience less confusion when get their period. Other tips include advice on what to do if you get caught without a pad and how to clean soiled clothing. This kind of advice is useful because it reduces anxiety, illustrates common embarrassments, and provides a strategy for times of crisis.
If this book has a weakness it is the brevity of the section addressing the thoughts and feelings of other children the reader’s age as well as those girls who have been through adolescence. The authors include one section entitled, “Why do I feel this way?” and one page titled ‘How others have felt.’ However, it is critical at this stage of development for children to understand that their thoughts and feelings are totally normal and that everyone has felt something comparable. Period. does an excellent job of highlighting for the reader that everyones body changes, but does not adequately address the universal feelings that accompany those changes. This book is very educationally based and might not serve as a comforting companion to a child who is experiencing a tough emotional transition.
Period. stands apart from other books of its kind because of three special features. First, the book includes an open dated calendar so the reader can monitor their cycle changes. Including this calendar provides the child a private and secure location to mark down this information rather than marking it on a wall calendar which may be in a more public location. The layout of the calendar also allows the girl to visually estimate when her next period should arrive. This enables her to foresee possible problems and be proactive about seeking physician’s visits.
In addition to the calendar, Period. includes a list of helpful websites, both for the parent and the child. The websites include information about hygiene products as well as how to determine which one is the best fit for you. The list of websites also includes information about mail away free samples, starter kits and informative videos for the parent and child to watch together.
The best and most unique of the special features is the removable parent’s guide. This section is invaluable, as it guides parents through the unclear waters of initiating the discussion with their child. It provides strategies for beginning discussions, yet also sets realistic expectations: “Expect to feel awkward, expect to make mistakes, and expect to feel frustrated. When your ‘growing-up talk’ with your child doesn’t flow the nice easy way it did on a television sitcom last week, don’t blame yourself. And most importantly, expect that this will get easier and better with practice.”(p. 8). The parent’s guide is congruent with the messages in the text as it urges the parent to celebrate menses and to acknowledge it as a special event in a growing woman’s life. It suggests that the parent and daughter create a rite of passage that will contribute to her first period being a special memory for her. Suggestions include having a favorite family dinner, hosting a sleep over, buying tickets to a play, or taking her to visit the newborns in the hospital in which she was born. In congruence with the theme of individualization the authors suggest that the event be something selected by each girl, including if they opt for no event at all. The guide itself can be removed from the book so that the parent can leave the book on their daughter’s pillow as a gift, or if they feel that the daughter would prefer to be introduced to this material by herself.
This book is a natural supplement to psychotherapy for the anxious preteen female. If the adolescent has anxiety about getting her period this book could serve as a factual basis to dispel some myths and set realistic expectations. Another option is if a client is obviously uncomfortable discussing the topic, she could read the book independently and come in with questions. The psychotherapist could use the book as a gateway to communication and facilitating discussion. In addition to anxious daughters, this book could also be used with parents who are not sure how to address the topic. After having read the text, they could brainstorm with the psychotherapist ways to approach this topic with their children.
This book is highly recommended for parents of pre menses daughters. Due to the appropriate language and informative illustrations, this text serves as a comforting and useful guide. It would be a valuable tool to initiate conversations, as well as an excellent supplement in psychotherapy to reduce anxiety. Not only is this book highly recommended for bibliotherapy with preadolescent girls, it may actually be quite beneficial for parents and psychotherapists to introduce boys to Period. Informing young boys about menstruation and development of the opposite gender can help lessen the mysteriousness and can contribute to educated and appropriate behavior. Regardless of the gender, race or culture of the individual this is a wonderful book for any preadolescent, period.