Young Feminists: In Matters of Health, Knowledge is Em(Power)ment<

By Jocelyn Fitzgerald

When I was 13, and I got my first period, my mother told me that it was time to learn how to use a tampon. Of course, I was extremely anxious, though I tried not to show it. No sooner had she handed me the junior slim paper tube that I realized I had to ask, “Where do I put it?” Since I couldn’t see her expression (as I had forced her to stand outside the door) I could only imagine the look on her face when she said with great surprise, “The hole that’s lower down.” Who knew? I was well aware of the fact that girls my age menstruated—I even knew (roughly) what menstruation was. Yet, here I stood, embarrassed and frustrated, struggling with the practicalities of my body.

No sooner had I mastered the tampon at 13 (and had even taught my best friend how to use one!) then, at 15, I realized that (gasp!) I didn’t know where my clitoris was, had no idea how the pill worked, and who knows, probably thought that Herpes was a Greek god. (I now blame this in large part on my substandard, largely abstinence-based health education and lack of health resources in my school). By that point, I had had enough of owning anatomical equipment I knew nothing about. I felt completely ridiculous—out of the loop, not knowing what was right, wrong, or normal. So, I started scouring books (Our Bodies, Our Selves!), the Planned Parenthood website, even the package inserts on feminine products. I went to a summer program at the University of Pittsburgh, where I wrote a 12-page paper on contraception and organized a sexuality education class for inner-city women. I became a girl on a mission: to uncover and learn whatever I could about my health and my body, and to share my discoveries with anyone who would sit still long enough to listen.

When I finally got to college, I realized that, even though I had removed my bodily blinders, many of the new friends I made had not. To call many of them naive was an extraordinary understatement. Apparently I wasn’t the only victim of sub-par sexuality education classes; lack of accessible, user-friendly health information; or embarrassment about asking one’s mother questions. Despite providing me with a forum to become the dorm “Sex Ed guru”, I was surprised to find that my type A, successful, smart, college girlfriends were largely unaware and uninformed about their own bodies.

In addition, I realized that women my age weren’t just curious about their bodies; they were borderline desperate to get their hands on more information. Once you got them going, they wanted to know everything. “Can you get pregnant if you miss a Pill?” which lead to such questions as “Will the Pill make me gain weight?” Or…”Which birth control methods have the fewest side effects?” I found, more and more, that young women (just like me!) want answers to the “I know this sounds stupid but I was just wondering…” questions. I am happy to help my friends with information and answers. It feels good to be able to ask these questions without fear of appearing ignorant or abnormal—and it feels even better to receive clear, reassuring answers. Nagging questions—such as: why does this hurt? If I do this, will I be able to have a baby later? Why did my period come early? What is this discharge? That odor?—all have the potential to cause tremendous anxiety, even for the most educated, seemingly knowledgeable women.

Women have big questions about how their bodies and health affect their lives, and these questions need to be answered in the context of a society where women’s bodies are so much more than just the soul’s container. Because women’s bodies are so politicized, we constantly receive mixed messages about what is healthy and normal: dress attractively, but don’t be too provocative; be thin, but not too thin; be successful, but keep in mind that, ultimately, you will want to have babies. These mixed messages are a colossal source of stress for women and girls. The good news is that stress and confusion can be alleviated by two things: honest, unbiased, factual answers; and validation of each woman’s experience as unique, important, and totally normal. Having access to objective information can empower women to make their own decisions about what is right for them and for their health, and can inspire confidence and quell their worries.

Since being an intern at the Network, it has become even more apparent that the lack of information is not a problem that only plagues my generation. We get calls from women of all ages, looking for answers and to reduce their anxieties about health care and their bodies. From balanced nutrition to hormone therapy, women’s concerns cross the life span. In a world where the average doctor’s visit is over before you can say “HMO”, teenagers and grandmothers alike need to find safe spaces outside the doctors’ office to make their concerns known, discuss their feelings, and have their questions answered. The unfortunate side effect of an in-and-out doctor’s visit is that women’s concerns are often boiled down to physical symptoms and medical terminology; in the process, important questions and concerns lose their greater context.

The key to empowering women then, is theoretically simple: put straightforward, user-friendly information directly into their hands. While it is important to start early, it is never too late. I now know that the rewards of passing on even a small fact about health can have enormous consequences at any stage in a woman’s life, whether it is me and my tampon confusion, or my grandmother and her hormone therapy. Epiphanies such as, “I had no idea that I might not need this medication!” Or, “I never knew that other women have this problem, too!” can snowball into a sense of well-being and control that translate into a more positive, powerful outlook on life.

You don’t need to be a doctor or nurse (or even something as glamorous as, say, an NWHN intern) to answer a sister, daughter, or friend’s question. If you can help her spend less time worrying and obsessing about the how-to’s and what ifs of her body, there is no telling what she may be able to accomplish with the extra energy! Information is contagious, so tell everyone what you know, share a useful resource, or pass on that article or book you just read. Don’t be afraid to dig for an answer, or to pipe up if you have one: small questions are bigger than they at first appear.

Jocelyn Fitzgerald is a junior in the Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State University, working on dual BS degrees in Biology with a Neurobiology Option and Women’s Studies with a certificate in Women’s Health, Wellness, and Sexuality. She plans to attend medical school and specialize in surgical gynecology, reproductive surgery, and vulvovaginal disease. More importantly, she wants to be a voice for women in the medical community. Jocelyn was a NWHN intern in Summer 2006.