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187 How would you describe yourself? What social movements, if any, do you identify with? Do you consider yourself an activist? Why or why not? How would you define “menstrual activism”? Do you use this language to describe what you do? Why or why not? What language do you use if different? How is this language meaningful to you? Tell me when you first became interested in menstrual activism. If you can, please provide a date (or at least a year). Who or what exposed you? What was your initial reaction? At what point did you decide to work on menstrual issues? Again, if you can, please provide an approximate date. How did your family and friends respond to your activism? How do they respond today? What and who are the biggest influences on your work? What is the most rewarding aspect of being a menstrual activist? What about it makes it rewarding? What is the most frustrating aspect of being a menstrual activist? What about it makes it frustrating? What sort of doubts lurk around for you when you do your activism (if any)? How do you deal with them? Tell me about a time when some activism you participated in (could be the launching of your zine or mounting of your website or the first time you held a workshop, for example) seemed a real success? Why do you think it worked? Appendix B. Interview Protocol Tell me about a “flop.” Why do you think the activism failed? What did you learn from this experience? What’s the most affirming feedback you ever received about your work? How did you react to it and why? What’s the most discouraging feedback you ever received about your work? How did you react to it and why? How would you characterize menstrual activists as a group? Is there a certain type of person that takes up this issue? A couple of different types? Can you describe the “typical” menstrual activist to me? What might account for the particular characteristics shared by menstrual activists? What makes answering this question hard or easy? Is there a discernible community of menstrual activists? Is it a movement? Why or why not? Where do you fit in all of this? What’s your unique contribution/s? In your opinion, what other social issues (movements, trends, initiatives) are most related to menstrual activism? What’s the connection between them? Why do you think the mainstream public remains largely uninformed about the issues you are working on (such as FemCare safety and alternatives)? What is it going to take for these issues to catch on and become more accepted? How do you stay committed to the work you do? What’s in it for you? If you have not remained active in menstrual activism, tell me what led you to move on? What do you believe is the future of menstrual activism? Where is it headed? What’s going to help it along? Slow it down? Are there any groups that might be excluded from menstrual activism? Why might that be? What else would you like me to know? appendix b 188 ...

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