PERIOD POWER

The story of how one young woman turned her passion for menstrual rights into an international movement.

When debut author Okamoto was 16, her family experienced financial hardships that led to housing instability. The Portland, Oregon, teen, now a Harvard undergraduate, was deeply shaken by this crisis. She began speaking to homeless women about their experiences living on the streets, and as she developed relationships with them, she was shocked to discover that many had no access to safe menstrual hygiene products, often resorting to discarded newspapers or grocery sacks. These conversations inspired her to found PERIOD, a nonprofit dedicated to making menstrual health a universal human right. Part memoir and part manifesto, the book uses Okamoto’s personal journey as a teen activist as a springboard to discuss everything from the technical aspects of menstruation to the history of menstrual taboos in the United States to the menstrual movement’s policy priorities and environmental sustainability. The book is truly intersectional, and Okamoto is refreshingly open about her commitment to amplifying the menstrual experiences of transgender and nonbinary people as well as menstruators of various races, religions, sexualities, and class backgrounds. The final chapter is dedicated to taking action and will be a useful guide for activists inspired by this work. The friendly, chatty writing style ensures that the information-packed text remains accessible. Art not seen.

A smart, honest, and comprehensive education on movement building and menstrual rights.