Menstrual Equity.

Menstrual equity refers to the access to safe environments in which to menstruate, including bathroom facilities and clean water, as well as access to menstrual products that allow for the ability to go to school, work, and engage in life with dignity. Menstruation is a physiologic process, not a reflection of maturity or self-worth. Providers within cultures should advocate that girls should be protected from abuse or shame related to menses.

FIGIJ and NASPAG Advocacy Statement-Eliminating the Persistent Misconception of the "Virgin Hymen".

This advocacy statement endeavors to clarify the concept of the hymen as a symbol of "virginity." The anatomic variants of this structure precludes any correlation to prior sexual activity and the value of physical assessment of this structure is thus questioned. Moreover, physical examination of the hymen is painful, traumatic, and humiliating and is a form of gender-based violence.

Perspective: Barbie: Food for the Soul or Fanciful Nostalgia?

This perspectives piece analyzes the "Barbie" movie and its impact on its viewership. In contrast to prior research demonstrating that images of Barbie objectified girls, lowered self-esteem, and promoted body dysmorphia, with social media focus on "Fitspiration" as well as "Thinspiration" amplifying the negative effect, the Barbie movie may have more positive impact than one might predict. As gleaned from an informal survey of patients, parents, and peers, the messages of the Barbie movie include a mix of body positivity, recognition of the impact of depression and other aspects of mental health, critique of the perceived societal patriarchy, and a message of empowerment for girls, females, and people otherwise unrecognized.