Exclusive Q&A with Teen Author Rachel Nalebuff: 'I want women to share their stories'
If girls grow up with a canon of stories, it makes the subject much more approachable. Girls shouldn't feel awkward, embarrassed or ashamed. (Detroit Free Press via HSB)
Apr 29, 2009
Teen author: I want women to share their stories'
By CASSANDRA SPRATLING - Detroit Free Press
Though it eventually happens to almost every girl, it's rare that women and girls talk about it aloud with ease.
But 18-year-old Rachel Kauder Nalebuff hopes to change that - period!
She's compiled a collection of true, first period tales from famous and ordinary women and girls, including writers Meg Cabot and Gloria Steinem.
* http://www.freep.com
Click here to find out more!
Profits from Kauder's best-selling "My Little Red Book" (Twelve, $14.99), will benefit projects to improve women's health around the world.
We recently chatted with Kauder, who plans to study at Yale University, in her native New Haven, Conn., in the fall.
Q: What do you hope the book accomplishes?
A: It's strange because it's sort of happening already. I want girls to ask women in their families to share their stories. If girls grow up with a canon of stories, it makes the subject much more approachable. Girls shouldn't feel awkward, embarrassed or ashamed.
In my grandmother's generation, it was taboo. It was called "the Curse." My mother's generation is more like, "Why would I talk about it? No one cares or wants to know."
Q: What was your first period like?
A: It was a disaster. I was on vacation, waterskiing in a yellow bathing suit with my grandfather. We were stuck on a boat. We both knew what had happened ... but we didn't talk about it. He just took me to a store and I found myself lost in an aisle of Depends. I remember thinking there must be a better way to greet womanhood.
Q: When did you decide to collect the stories?
Apr 29, 2009
Teen author: I want women to share their stories'
By CASSANDRA SPRATLING - Detroit Free Press
Though it eventually happens to almost every girl, it's rare that women and girls talk about it aloud with ease.
But 18-year-old Rachel Kauder Nalebuff hopes to change that - period!
She's compiled a collection of true, first period tales from famous and ordinary women and girls, including writers Meg Cabot and Gloria Steinem.
* http://www.freep.com
Click here to find out more!
Profits from Kauder's best-selling "My Little Red Book" (Twelve, $14.99), will benefit projects to improve women's health around the world.
We recently chatted with Kauder, who plans to study at Yale University, in her native New Haven, Conn., in the fall.
Q: What do you hope the book accomplishes?
A: It's strange because it's sort of happening already. I want girls to ask women in their families to share their stories. If girls grow up with a canon of stories, it makes the subject much more approachable. Girls shouldn't feel awkward, embarrassed or ashamed.
In my grandmother's generation, it was taboo. It was called "the Curse." My mother's generation is more like, "Why would I talk about it? No one cares or wants to know."
Q: What was your first period like?
A: It was a disaster. I was on vacation, waterskiing in a yellow bathing suit with my grandfather. We were stuck on a boat. We both knew what had happened ... but we didn't talk about it. He just took me to a store and I found myself lost in an aisle of Depends. I remember thinking there must be a better way to greet womanhood.
Q: When did you decide to collect the stories?