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Margaret Takes On Womanhood

And Other Ways Judy Blume Kept Teenagers Informed

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Jun 22, 2023

Ban (n) - A prohibition imposed by law or official decree

With increased frequency, we are either hearing or reading about banned books in the United States. In a country where the latest edition of Penthouse, Playboy, and Hustler can be easily purchased in conjunction with your lottery ticket and half a tank of gas—let me just delicately say, there is no such thing as the banning of books in this country.

Based on the definition, the term ban in this context offers the idea that a book cannot be obtained or against the law to buy. In the United States, books are not literally banned. They are, however, challenged on a regular bases. This means there is “an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or a group thereby restricting the access of others.” (Gutman Library)

Written work, i.e., books, are protected under the First Amendment, giving people the freedom to write whatever they like. However, when it comes to banning a book, there are community standards that can be decided upon. A school district may remove a book from their school libraries if they deem the material is obscene, pornographic, or inappropriate for their students based on a collective community decision. These are regional differences in public tastes and sensitivities consistent with the local values. They cannot, however, remove books based on the dislike of an author—only a specific publication.

Now, does this impose upon the First Amendment rights of students? No, not really. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In fact, the First Amendment can benefit individuals from these archaic community standards by giving that individual the right to, “… petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Although, I can control what MY child reads, I don’t advocate anyone else overruling what I deem appropriate. This is upheld in the more recent ruling by the Supreme Court when it declared in Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702 (1997), that the Constitution, and specifically the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, protects the fundamental right of parents to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children.

Nevertheless, I felt it necessary to explain why I’ve placed quotes around "banned books.” If I, or anyone else in America, can go to a book store or order a book online, it is not technically banned. The more adapt word this scenario would be censored—but that word doesn’t change votes. This may not apply to other countries, but the freedoms we have should be celebrated—despite the disheartening notion that anyone can be censored or challenged on their expression. No one person or group should determine what is appropriate to read for another.

One of the fabulous things with writing about sex and sexuality is my research. My collection of books on the topic has grown exponentially and offers a vast assortment of topics—such as relationships, masturbation, swinging, menopause, prostitution, etc. It fascinates me because I grew up in a time where a majority of people didn’t talk about sex or their sexuality. It didn’t make me less curious, only more resourceful. Did you really even try as a teenager in the 80s if you didn’t pick up Encyclopedia Brittanica to research orgasms?

I think not.

Recently I watched a documentary on Judy Blume. I’ve been a long-time fan of her books, more specifically her first adult novel Wifey. Although I knew her books have been part of the “banned books” movement, I hadn’t realized just how much she endured in the 70s and 80s with her young-adult books. She was in constant battle with self-appointed censors, parents, and elected officials. Remarkably, even to this day, she hasn’t given up the battle and addresses the issues head-on.

Blume has always had an exceptional way of connecting with the young adults, making them feel as though their concerns mattered. Just for the record, they actually do. When she began writing, it wasn’t common to talk to young girls about their bodies; even menstruation which all girls go through. It was as though it was something to be ashamed of even though there was no control over the situation. Additionally, a vast majority of young girls never got “the talk” about sex—I certainly didn’t.

I remember my step-mother sitting me down one day in the early 80s, handing me a large box of feminine products. I was about twelve years old and had no concept of the changes my body would be taking. Being the tomboy that I was, there was no sense of what it meant to menstruate and the conversation didn’t clear anything up for me. Not because my step-mom wasn’t trying to explain; but how do you relay to a preteen they’ll be bleeding profusely, once a month for five days, without dying?

The box contained a variety of pads for the range of blood-flow that would happen in the course of five-days. I remember being fascinated by all the products, wanting to try them out immediately even though I hadn’t started menstruating yet. The only thing missing were tampons.

My step-mom believed them to be dangerous because of Toxic-Shock Syndrome (TSS). For her, tampons weren’t an option; therefore they wouldn’t be for me either. Although men and children can also get TSS, it was linked to tampon use in the 1980s. In all actuality, getting TSS is a vary rare occurrence.

Brief Tampon History
Dr. Earle Haas began his invention of the modern-day tampon in 1929 when a friend told him she inserted a sponge to avoid the bulky pads. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Dr. Haas surmised a compressed form of cotton would do the job. He packaged it in a slender tube (to keep it clean) and added a string for easy removal. The patent is dated November of 1931. He subsequently trademarked his invention as Tampax—which is a combination of “tampon” and “vaginal packs.”
Gertrude Tendrich purchased his trademarked product and she would later form the Tampax company. Her early days were spent sewing each of the tampons and adding the cardboard tube before it was mass-produced. Across the pond, German gynecologist named Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag created the no-applicator tampon in the late 1940s—the O.B. Tampons. The O.B. is German for ohne binde, which translates to “no bandage.” Cardboard was not easily accessible in post-war Germany leaving Tendrich to work out a viable solution.

Blume’s first children’s book was published in 1969 but the controversy started with her young adult book, Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret. It was published in 1970 and extremely popular with both boys and girls alike.

Blume’s character Margaret blatantly discusses her sexuality (puberty) to God— an issue within the religious circles. Talking to God about your body? Surely you jest! Young girls everywhere wanted to know more about the changes with their bodies were going through; but no one was sharing the information. Blume wanted to let every girl in on the “big secret”—which shouldn’t be a secret at all!

I honestly feel unnerved that a mother wouldn’t openly talk about a bodily function with her daughter. The menstrual taboo is a universal social stigma that has surrounded women for centuries. A woman’s “hygienic crisis” was, in ancient times, considered a product witchcraft. All religions once proclaimed women who were menstruating were impure and unclean; with some sects not allowing women in places of worship during menses. They also believed women needed to bleed to cool their emotional, hysterical natures.

Just the thought of that makes me emotionally hysterical now.

For generations, society believed that periods were repulsive; making women feel ashamed, unclean, and subsequently inferior. I recall being embarrassed to purchase feminine products, not wanting the cashier (male or female) to know I menstruate. Never you mind that half the population has a period and there is practically a whole aisle dedicated to this purpose. I know my step-mom didn’t make me feel that way, so I can only blame the culture of society about menstruation.

“Before the late 1970s, feminine hygiene was not understood to be a subject warranting serious cultural and historical research; and [the types of] feminine hygiene products were not prioritized for collection or preservation. This attitude mirrored Americans’ discomfort with the idea of women’s hygiene. This discomfort is especially apparent in our continued reliance on the euphemism “feminine hygiene” a term which we often use to discuss products associated with menstruation, genital cleanliness, and contraception. Use of this euphemism allows us to avoid any direct reference to female anatomy.”

~Smithsonian, Feminine Hygiene Products

Thankfully, we are in a different time where knowledge has turned the tides, so to speak. Blume wanted young girls to know the truth about their bodies and that it was nothing to be ashamed of. The parents weren’t sharing, so Judy did. In turn, she was called upon to defend her writing claiming this shouldn’t be part of discussion amongst young girls.

What?

Blume also wrote a book from a boy’s perspective of entering puberty, called Then Again, Maybe I Won’t. This story is about twelve-year old Tony who befriends Joel—who is, for all intents and purposes, a deviant who shoplifts, reads graphic novels, and drinks alcohol. Joel, by the way, has an older sister who Tony uses binoculars to spy on in her bedroom while she dresses and undresses. The book title is actually Tony’s response after he admits to being a voyeur to his therapist. When asked to talk about this behavior of spying, he explains he will stop, followed by “Then again, maybe I won’t.”

This book is not on the “banned” list or censored. I can only surmise the thought was boys will be boys.

Blume’s book Deenie, published in 1973, is her next book challenged by censors. This is about a thirteen-year-old girl whose mother pressures her to become a model despite wearing a back-brace due to her scoliosis diagnosis. Deenie, feeling overwhelmed, begins touching her “special place practically every night.” She claims, “It was the only way I could fall asleep and besides, it felt good.”

A book about the struggles of a young girl who just happens to discover her sexuality was considered taboo and inappropriate. I can tell you that it was in my early teens that I found that my special place felt good when touched. I can’t imagine trying to have that conversation with my parents. But, to have a book that helped me feel like this is normal was a relief.

Blume wasn’t encouraging girls to play with themselves. She was letting them know they weren’t alone in what they were feeling.

Next up on the Judy Blume controversy list is Forever, published in 1975. Katherine is an eighteen-year-old senior in high school and has sex for the first time with her boyfriend, Michael. He calls his penis Ralph and teaches Katherine how to become familiar with him. It seems 1970s Judy was quite in tune with the sexuality of both men and women. A guy having a nickname for their penis is far from uncommon.

However, despite her character’s age, Blume is still met with resistance because of the use of birth control rather than choosing abstinence. Yes, Katherine has safe sex, but how dare she do “it” before marriage.

In the end, forever isn’t what happens with Katherine and Michael, mostly because her parents move to another state as a plot to keep them apart. A bit extreme if you ask me. Her heartache is soon minimized by her sexy, new tennis instructor who makes the transition way easier. Blume demonstrates through this novel how life keeps moving on and it’s okay that our relationships don’t—even if you have sex. Although Katherine was in love and in a relationship her first time having sex, the powers-that-be felt discussing any teenage sexual activity shouldn’t be a part of the conversation.

Oh, I see… if we don’t discuss sex with our teenagers, they won’t engage in having sex. Naive, table for one, please.

In 1981, six years after Forever, Blume’s next tendentious book is Tiger Eyes. The main character is fifteen-year-old Davis, nicknamed Davey. The topics of controversy are teenage depression, sex, violence, and underage drinking. Davey’s father dies in a tragic incident where he is shot and she struggles with depression. Her mother uproots the family to another state where they all live with her aunt and uncle. Teenage depression seems rather reasonable. While exploring her new city, she meets a guy who calls himself Wolf. She introduces herself as Tiger. Wolf makes her tingle in all the right places, leading her to masturbate.

Davey’s new friend Jane is revealed to be an alcoholic and she is trying to help her get sober. The idea that a teenager is facing all of these troubles isn’t uncommon. The key is that Davey is getting therapy for her grief, which helps her find a way to cope with her father’s death and circumstances. There is nothing outrageous in Blume’s book and she is careful in her writing to keep both realistic and mindful of her teenage audience.

In the end, I feel Judy Blume’s work was placed on the “banned” list because so many were raised to believe our sexuality is something to be ashamed of. That moral guidelines set up by religion and centuries’ old belief systems are adhered to despite knowledge and education. And worst of all, that young adults should ignore how they feel and be kept in the dark about their own sexuality is a travesty.

Our children know what we teach them, whether it be life skills, religion, work ethic, or relationships. I don’t personally believe that talking to our teenagers about sex will cause them to start fornicating as if the discussion somehow encourages the activity. The reality, they WILL HAVE SEX one day, so why not ensure they know the good and bad aspects of sex? Even if the discussion is heavily edited, young adults need to know they aren’t alone in what they are feeling.

Why not be realistic rather than pretend they don’t need to know. We all know that knowledge is power and allows us to make informed decisions.

I’ve made it a point to have open discussion with my kids about sex and sexuality. I always want them to come to me rather than figuring it out on their own or worse, getting incorrect information from their friends. Even thought they are all adults now, I was very certain that they would one day have sex. I also knew it wouldn’t be up to me as to which day that would happen. It’s just a part of life.

As I’ve mentioned before, we as parents are responsible for our children’s well-being. In doing so, we determine what they read, what they watch, and where they go—up to a certain age. Our goal is to raise them to be productive adults hoping they make good choices once they reach adulthood. Those decisions encompass all of their knowledge and limiting them because of your personal feelings and experiences is a disservice to their well-being.

On a personal note, if you’re ever in Key West, be sure to stop by Books and Books @ The Studios of Key West. It is the “… brainchild of a small group of local booklovers, led by George Cooper … and his wife, the beloved writer Judy Blume.” They are frequently in the store and if you’re lucky enough to be there when she is, Judy will inscribe your book!

We’d absolutely love to hear from you!

Leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to share your story about this topic or sex in general.