Jessica Biel on Periods and Body Confidence

Individuals have diverse, personal experiences with getting their first period

Jessica Biel shares her recollection of getting her first period at the age of 11, an experience she found scary and confusing. She felt unprepared, despite her mother's attempt to educate her prior to the event, and did not expect the level of panic that set in upon seeing blood. Biel admitted that if she had experienced her first period in class, it would have been overwhelming, possibly leading to a panic attack rather than a composed request for help. Her account emphasizes the unpredictability of menstrual cycles, mentioning how her period vanished for almost a year following the first incident.

Similarly, Becky Kennedy discusses her irregular menstrual cycle and how she did not start getting her period regularly until after childbirth. She did not experience a natural menstrual cycle during her younger years and was put on birth control in college. It was only after stopping birth control to try and start a family, and subsequently giving birth to her first son, that she began to get her period naturally—becoming regular after her third child.

Periods are a natural, healthy bodily function, but are often shrouded in shame and stigma

Jessica Biel and Becky Kennedy touch upon the negative stigma that surrounds menstrual cycles. Biel recalls bad jokes from her youth and a general gross or negative connotation attached to periods, which fostered a sense of shame. She reflects on the lack of information and empowerment regarding the heal ...

Jessica Biel and Becky Kennedy discuss the value of having open dialogues about periods and the female body to reduce fear, confusion, and stigma.

Providing accurate, age-appropriate information helps reduce fear and confusion

Educating children about periods and female body functions in an open, age-appropriate way is crucial, as Biel and Kennedy emphasize.

Sharing information normalizes the experience and empowers individuals

Jessica Biel notes that having conversations about menstruation is important and aims to start these dialogues early. She believes books are useful in providing language for complex topics. Biel appreciates the knowledge that a normal period is an indicator of good health and thinks this fact should be more widely known to normalize the conversation around periods.

Becky Kennedy comments on the direct nature of children's books which can convey information clearly and help discuss complex subjects like menstruation with ease. Kennedy and Biel both stress that knowledge is empowering and can transform menstruation from a taboo into a normalized, natural event.

Even small moments of openness, like acknowledging periods, can have big impacts

Even small acts of recognition can have a big impact. When children have access to information, shared by a trusting adult, they feel less alone and confused. Jessica Biel promotes an environment of openness, stating that normalizing conversations about periods can set a precedent for empathy and kindness. She recounts how sharing a book about periods with her son led to an open conversation, which reflects the big impact of normalizing the discussion around menstruation.

Children benefit from learning about periods before experiencing them

Education about periods before they begin can prevent panic and promote understanding, both for boys and girls.

Early education helps prevent panic and feeling alone when periods start

Early education on menstruation can prevent panic and isolation when it begins. Although Biel says she was educated by he ...

Jessica Biel and Becky Kennedy highlight the importance of normalizing body discussions and fostering self-trust to build body confidence.

Confidence is rooted in self-trust, not just feeling good about oneself

Trusting one's bodily signals and experiences is key to developing confidence

Becky Kennedy defines confidence as a form of self-trust, which includes trusting bodily sensations such as menstrual periods. She notes that understanding and trusting your body's processes is key to feeling healthy and powerful. Kennedy emphasizes that confidence comes from comprehending and respecting your body's functions, signifying overall health and well-being.

Lack of information and openness about the full body undermines self-trust

Kennedy discusses the importance of being prepared for bodily changes. She explains that unpreparedness can lead to negativity, which is a survival instinct. Kennedy asserts that this lack of information and openness undermines an individual's trust in their body. Jessica Biel echoes this sentiment by discussing the struggle for body confidence in the face of societal pressures and media portrayals of women's bodies from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Normalizing discussions around all aspects of the body, including periods, can boost confidence

Removing shame and secrecy allows individuals to feel more ownership over their bodies

Biel talks about the importance of promoting the idea that periods are a sign of health, suggesting that this perspective can help remove negative connotations. Kennedy and Biel discuss how everyday openness, such as not hiding tampons, can benefit individual confidence. Biel points out the transformative power of sharing stories and experiences, especially after major events like childbirth, to help others understand and relate to ...

Experts provide guidance to parents on how to engage with their children on important topics like feeding habits and bodily functions.

Parents should focus on the "what, when, and where" of feeding, not the "how could"

Becky Kennedy emphasizes the division of responsibility in feeding: parents pick the "what, when, and where," while children choose "whether" to eat and "how much." She advises parents to provide a safe food option and expose children to new foods without pressure. Avoid praising or celebrating when kids eat certain foods, as it can backfire by creating unnecessary pressure around eating.

Similar principles apply to discussing periods and other bodily functions

Educating children on delicate subjects requires transparency and trusting their capacity to learn. Parents should give age-appropriate information and resources, then step bac ...