Abstract
In tweets ranging from endearing to offensive, and in words expressing frustration, vexation, humor and sense, that “time of the month” is overwhelmingly portrayed on Twitter as one populated by irrational, moody, needy, suffering women and victimized, sometimes cruelly angry, men. This qualitative close study analyses 2,211 English-language tweets referencing menstruation (archived as a constructed week during April–May 2010). It explores the character and seeming purposes of the perpetuation of menstrual prohibitions and stereotypes in a global publication medium that allows unregulated self-expression. A social constructionist perspective, however, suggests that ready access to multiple realities in a transparent media environment might influence or alter how menstruation is positioned within various communities of knowledge.
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Appendix: Examples (as sent) for Tweet Designations
Appendix: Examples (as sent) for Tweet Designations
Categories Formed from Open Coding
Complaint: “There should be a law against menstruation. Girls shouldn’t be allowed to talk to any man during their time of the month. I’m serious.”
Explanation of someone’s behavior: “umm hol’ up sir! Just bc they’re moody doesn’t always mean it’s that time of the month…they could just be bitchy just because!”
Explanation of own behavior: “I have been craving apple pie. It’s that time of the month.”
Advice: “During that time of the month, no one should smell you.”
Humor: “What happens to lady vampires when it’s that time of the month”
Male (determined by more than tweet content): “#WomenDoShitLike say its that time of the month when it isn’t cuz she plans on fuckin wit another dood that week!”
Themes
Anger and frustration:
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(male): “Women are fuckin crazy! I don’t care if it is that time of the month, You need 2 sit the fuck down & take a Chill Pill.”
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(male): “LADIES #DontActLikeYouNever lied to a nigga talkn bout (Female Voice) “Its dat time of the month” smh U just bein stingy wit dat pussy.”
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(male): “A constant reminder of the worse time of the month = no sex + attitude + no sex is #WhyIHate the period centered commercials #iDontWannaHearIt.”
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(male) and (male RT): “#LetsBeClear just b/c it’s “That Time of the month” don’t mean u gotta walk around smellin like a portable fish market.”
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(male): #pleasetellmewhy I can’t even use my own restroom cuz one of my girls friends done funked it up behind some “time of the month” type sh*
Physical and emotional change:
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(female): “I become particularly hostile toward men during this time of the month. Stay. Away. Or experience my wrath. Gnite =)”
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(female): “omygoshh ive been such a bitch but excuse me its that time of the month and I cant control my actions.”
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(female): “My day has been ruined by my body, damn time of the month, woke up in a pool of my own blood and fainted due to the amount I’m loosing :0(.”
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(female): “Why aren’t women allowed to be angry just because anymore? = \ Why does it always have to be ‘that time of the month’?”
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(male): “The worst thing to say to a women [sic] during an argument is ‘is it that time of the month?’”
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(male): “Best diss to a pissy girl ever: is it that time of the month for you all the time?”
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(female): “We need a male equivalent of ‘You seem edgy, is it that time of the month?’ Any suggestions????”
Deceit, decorum, and disdain:
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(male): “Well all I know is that #Twitter was gonna be good not needing to know that it was your time of the month.”
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(male): “90% of women talk about they time of month with other women freely but theyre embarrassed when it gets brung up around a man.”
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(male): #whyyouattheclub knowing its that time of the month so you grindin on niggas leaving blood stains niggas
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(male): #idontwannasee u on that time of the month call me when u off
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(male): #thingsyoudontdo wear white pants during that time of the month #NONO
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(male): #liesfemalestell can’t have sex, its that time of the month
Validation and bonding:
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(female to female): “He really wanted me to pack a bag & sleep over. Knowing it’s that time of the month. And then we’d go have bfast. Omg O_o.”
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(male to male): “am I guessing its that time of the month? I normally get punched ..I mean gently woken at 3 am to go and get painkillers…..”
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(female to female): “’It’s not easy for us this time of month, is it?’ She touches my necklace. ‘Definitely not,’ I reply, touching hers. We both laugh.’”
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(female to female): “is that time of month huh? Poor u and poor Christian lol.”
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(male): “So who’s the lucky guy that’s gonna earn his blood wings lmao” (laughing my ass off)
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(female): “This ones for all the girlies out there…. Retweet if you flipping hate your TOM (time of the month)!!”
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(male): “Ladies: An App for ‘That Time of the Month’ [I kid you not, it’s called #CodeRed for the #iPad].”
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(male): “Need to know when your GF is experiencing ‘that time of the month’? There’s an app for that.”
Excerpts from Real Housewives of New Jersey episode discussion (all from females):
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“Think it is time for the little old Italian man to ask Ramona if it is her time of the month!”
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“Pesty mood = that time of the month”
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“If it means I get to relax and stay out of the kitchen – it’d be my time of the month all month”
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“My new saying when it’s that time of the month…. I can’t make the sauce! Sorry!”
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“OK, what the hell was that “time of the month” & tomatoes! Convo-ewww!”
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“WTF? No red sauce making during “that time of the month”?!?”
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“Jaw-dropped @Real Housewives of New Jersey. … *rapid blinking*”
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“Lol I just made sauce & its my time of the month lol”
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“I think black folks run that old wives tale, too.”
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Thornton, LJ. “Time of the Month” on Twitter: Taboo, Stereotype and Bonding in a No-Holds-Barred Public Arena. Sex Roles 68, 41–54 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0041-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0041-2