New Books in Critical Theory Ela Przybylo, "Ungendering Menstruation" (U Minnesota Press, 2025)
Jul 21, 2025
Ela Przybylo, an associate professor whose work highlights asexual communities in feminist discourse, dives into their groundbreaking book. They challenge traditional narratives of menstruation tied strictly to womanhood, advocating for a more inclusive understanding that respects diverse experiences. Przybylo explores the intersection of menstruation with disability and ableism, emphasizing menstrual justice for all. They offer a critical perspective on societal norms, suggesting that menstruation should not be weaponized as a gendered concept but celebrated as a shared human experience.
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Personal Experience Drives Inquiry
- Ela Przybyło shares personal experiences with toxic shock syndrome, severe menstrual pain, and period dysphoria.
- These experiences motivated their inquiry into menstruation beyond usual feminist perspectives.
Menstrual Justice Needs Broader Frameworks
- Menstrual justice requires incorporating disability and trans justice frameworks because reproductive justice alone is insufficient.
- Menstruation extends beyond fertility and womanhood, demanding nuanced perspectives encompassing pain and gender diversity.
Cranky Methodology Challenges Positivity
- A cranky methodological approach critiques the cooptation of menstrual positivity that ignores trauma and pain.
- Auto-theory and disability studies perspectives illuminate complexities often erased by neoliberal positivity discourses.
