By: Carrie WootenLybrel, the newly FDA approved oral contraceptive by Wyeth, has certainly been a hot topic as of late. I know that a post on Lybrel was up a few days ago ... so I’m not going to rehash what it’s all about. Rather, I’d like to spend some time investigating the widely positive response to a pill that stops menstrual cycles.
For some, this pill seems like a miracle drug. Those with heavy bleeding, intense pain, or even those who feel that their monthly cycle is a dire symptom of being in the wrong body may see Lybrel as pure liberation. However, much of the positive response about Lybrel has come from those who see their period as just a monthly nuisance that they would happily do away with.
I usually consider myself a constructionist, routinely suspicious of essentialist prescriptions. But when it comes to drugs, manufactured by (presumably) male pharmacists, which are designed to put an end to a natural process that most women experience, something just doesn’t feel right. Now, perhaps I have just bought into gynocentrist thinking and essentialist feminism that tells me I should embrace my body’s connections to lunar cycles and childbearing. This is certainly possible. But, I am concerned that what is going on is the exact opposite – that patriarchy’s ever-present rejection and mocking of menstrual cycles has become internalized in the minds of many women. Perhaps the perpetuation of the idea that the cleansing of our bodies is “gross” or “weird” or somehow unnatural (since male bodily functions usually take the title of “normal” and anything that doesn’t fit in is shunned) has infiltrated and warped our very understandings of ourselves.
It is dangerous to talk of a collective “we” or “women,” but I think this is certainly a case where the borderline of PC feminism can be transgressed. With so much money spent on women hiding any sign of their cycles, with dioxin-soaked tampons sold to us by the caseload, with any mention of the goings-on of the non-pregnant uterus being silenced, I am certainly disturbed by the sudden push to treat Lybrel as a miracle drug. To me, a drug that “does away with periods” continues to treat this natural process of women as a disease to be cured.
For some, this pill seems like a miracle drug. Those with heavy bleeding, intense pain, or even those who feel that their monthly cycle is a dire symptom of being in the wrong body may see Lybrel as pure liberation. However, much of the positive response about Lybrel has come from those who see their period as just a monthly nuisance that they would happily do away with.
I usually consider myself a constructionist, routinely suspicious of essentialist prescriptions. But when it comes to drugs, manufactured by (presumably) male pharmacists, which are designed to put an end to a natural process that most women experience, something just doesn’t feel right. Now, perhaps I have just bought into gynocentrist thinking and essentialist feminism that tells me I should embrace my body’s connections to lunar cycles and childbearing. This is certainly possible. But, I am concerned that what is going on is the exact opposite – that patriarchy’s ever-present rejection and mocking of menstrual cycles has become internalized in the minds of many women. Perhaps the perpetuation of the idea that the cleansing of our bodies is “gross” or “weird” or somehow unnatural (since male bodily functions usually take the title of “normal” and anything that doesn’t fit in is shunned) has infiltrated and warped our very understandings of ourselves.
It is dangerous to talk of a collective “we” or “women,” but I think this is certainly a case where the borderline of PC feminism can be transgressed. With so much money spent on women hiding any sign of their cycles, with dioxin-soaked tampons sold to us by the caseload, with any mention of the goings-on of the non-pregnant uterus being silenced, I am certainly disturbed by the sudden push to treat Lybrel as a miracle drug. To me, a drug that “does away with periods” continues to treat this natural process of women as a disease to be cured.
9 comments:
While I agree that it is important to think about the ways that patriarchal medicine is affecting women's relationships with their bodies and accept as very viable the question about that relationship to Lybrel - I am left feeling compelled to also point out that we run an equally dangerous path when we accept something as "natural" to any gender construct.
ok, so i don't exactly relish getting my period. it hurts and it is annoying and it is a pain for sex.
BUT since when was your period a disease to be cured? it is a natural process that is part of being a woman. it is like feminine deodorants, they drive me nuts too. makes me think about steinem's essay on if men could menstruate. it wouldn't be a disease then, it would be a noble thing. it stinks to me of the infantilization of women.
ok - so if your periods are dehibilitating, then maybe some kind of drug is useful, but to treat menstruation as an illness is all too reminiscent of victorian/fundamentalist attitudes that the fact of your period made you weak, incapable and unclean.
think on germaine ladies.
Bruce, I agree with what you're saying (and welcome to the G-Spot conversation, BTW), but I don't think periods are a natural part of the feminine gender. They're a part of being female (aka biological sex).
As to Sian's comment, on point as usual. I was ready to run out and get a prescription for Lybrel last week, but you and Carrie have given me something to think about. I guess I'll stick with tampons for now.
I'm so glad to read a post about this!!!
First of all, I'm lucky, I get cramps 3x a year or less and my period is usually 2-3 days a month on average. Periods are not a big deal for me.
However, I enjoyed your insight Carrie, but I have different reasons for rejecting Lybrel.
1 - The women who are taking it won't have their periods and not every woman has morning sickness and the like. They won't know when they're pregnant! Months will pass where they can be doing drugs and participating in other unhealthy activities, then they find out they're pregnant and they're forced to make a decision months later vs. the women who would have been tipped off by the absence of their cycle.
2 - I really fear that abusive men will force their girlfriends and wives to go on this pill. "I wanna have sex! Why can't you just get on Lybrel so you don't have to have your period and use that as an excuse? You're a bitch and I want you to start taking that pill."
I've gone out with abusive a-holes who are probably saying that to their girlfriends right now!
I fear this pill will be abused.
Joy, awesome point! I hadn't even considered that. And especially with the latest SC decision upholding the ban on late term abortions, the combo of Lybrel could put a lot of wimmin in a really bad situation.
=)
Thanks for the welcome. When you get Carrie writing you usually then also get me reading. This is an exciting place and the site of some really amazing conversations thanks for providing the forum.
Isn't it peculiar that we have to also really critically question "medical advances" and the ways they can be put to work in oppressive ways. The question about men abusing women using this drug is fascinating and I wouldn't have thought of it.
Bruce
An interesting conversation has sprung up on Bilerico regarding my post on this site. Check it out and see what you think!
Menstruation is a sign of health. When you take these type of drugs you increase your risk of breast cancer, heart attack, bone loss, etc. It's not worth it. If you're having painful periods, that's a sign something is wrong--diet, lifestyle, etc.
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