https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.12239
Breaking the cycle: Memorable messages of “grin n’ bear it” and silence in menarche narrative recall
Submitted: 28 December 2023
Accepted: 5 August 2024
Published: 7 October 2024
Accepted: 5 August 2024
Abstract Views: 1331
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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To better understand adolescent experiences of menstruation, the CODE Red project was initiated to examine period poverty and menstruation stigma. As part of the project, a survey was posted online through Qualtrics, and the link was posted to social media sites. One hundred and eighty-seven individuals completed the open-ended questionnaire between January and August 2022. The individuals are based in the United States, with most coming from northeastern Indiana. Using an iterative analysis, the data were analyzed using the theory of memorable messages. Three themes emerged supporting memorable messages: the negative cycle of self, talk silence breeds silence, and my mom wasn’t there. The study concludes that grin n’ bear it and silence are the predominant types of memorable messages first-time menstruators’ experience. Moreover, first-time menstruators experience self-silencing and other-silencing. Implications include that silence negatively impacts the mother-daughter relationship and that attention should be paid to the importance of communication before menarche.
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How to Cite
LeBlanc, Sarah S. 2024. “Breaking the Cycle: Memorable Messages of ‘grin n’ Bear it’ and Silence in Menarche Narrative Recall”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 8 (2). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.12239.
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