Flow by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim Summary

Flow explores menstruation’s cultural and historical legacy, tracing societal attitudes from ancient myths to modern stigma. Authors Elissa Stein and Susan Kim dissect medical misconceptions (like “hysteria”), analyze menstrual product evolution, and debunk taboos around period sex. The book blends sharp humor with research to reframe menstruation as a natural, empowering process.

This book suits readers interested in feminist history, public health, or cultural anthropology. It’s ideal for those seeking to understand menstrual stigma, educators addressing reproductive health, or anyone curious about the $30 billion femcare industry’s origins. Stein’s accessible writing also appeals to general audiences tackling period-related shame.

Yes—Flow remains relevant for its critique of enduring taboos, like workplace period discrimination and “pink tax” pricing. Its analysis of historical misinformation (e.g., Victorian-era “menstrual weakness” myths) provides context for modern debates about menstrual equity. The blend of levity and rigor makes dense topics engaging.

The book dismantles ideas like menstruation causing impurity, mood swings being purely hormonal, and menopause as a deficiency. Stein cites how 19th-century doctors pathologized cycles as illnesses, while modern ads perpetuate secrecy/shame. Research shows cultural narratives—not biology—drive most stigma.

Flow traces femcare from homemade rags (1800s) to 1920s Kotex ads avoiding the word “menstruation,” to 1970s toxic shock syndrome scandals. Stein highlights how capitalism capitalized on shame—e.g., early tampon ads claiming to “prevent embarrassment.”

The book examines religious doctrines labeling menstruation “unclean,” Freudian theories linking cycles to hysteria, and modern media’s avoidance of period sex. Stein argues these taboos reinforce gender inequality by framing natural processes as grotesque.

Stein holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and authored Chunks: A Barfology before Flow. Her 13-year research process included analyzing medical journals, vintage ads, and interviews—blending graphic design skills with investigative rigor.

The book connects menstrual stigma to broader oppression, like 1920s employers blaming cycles for workplace incompetence or 1960s lawmakers dismissing period pain. Stein shows how menstrual equity (e.g., free products in schools) remains a feminist battleground.

• Ancient Romans used wool tampons soaked in opium
• 1940s Tampax ads featured ballet dancers to imply “discreet” use
• 1970s feminists burned tampons as symbols of patriarchal control

Stein critiques medical frameworks labeling menopause a “hormone deficiency,” contrasting this with cultures celebrating post-reproductive freedom. The book traces how hormone replacement therapy campaigns created new anxieties about aging.

Some reviewers note the book focuses heavily on Western perspectives, with less analysis of global menstrual practices. Others argue it oversimplifies complex medical histories, though most praise its provocative storytelling.

While both tackle menstrual equity, Flow emphasizes historical/cultural analysis, whereas Period Power focuses on modern activism. Stein’s work delves deeper into advertising’s role in stigma, while Okamoto prioritizes policy changes.