By Kimberly Burns
Did your mom talk to you about “lady things” like menstruation, contraception, and sexual health? Mine didn’t tell me much. I cobbled the little bit of knowledge she offered with the information (often misinformation) provided by the older kids on the school bus and the racy novels that circulated my junior high school. I stumbled through puberty, pregnancies, and menopause like a half-blind woman.
Writers face those same challenges for their historical female characters. While working on my novels about women of the west, I kept asking “How did women manage their common bodily functions? What did they use?” I think everyone has looked at antebellum hoop skirts and wondered how ladies managed a trip to the outhouse.
In the late 1800s it was impolite to speak of personal health and hygiene. In some situations it was illegal even to write about such topics, creating a secret language of euphemisms and code words. My research went down many fascinating rabbit holes.
Historically feminine health has been a DIY project. Women made do with the materials and information they had on hand. Differences in environment and culture led to the development of a variety of techniques and products.
At the upcoming WWW conference, I’ll present Unmentionables, Researching Topics that were Taboo. I will detail a history of feminine hygiene, contraception, and sexual health, focusing on nineteenth century America. I’ll reveal the real story behind a few misconceptions and what writers can do when there are gaps between the known facts. I will share the resources I discovered, including the work of several WWW members. (We girls have always talked among ourselves.)
Participants will also learn when and where to add delicate details to their work. A routine menstrual flow can help with character development. Picture a prepubescent girl. Readers can easily imagine a girl with the first buds of youth. And many real-life dramas have turned on the arrival or absence of a young woman’s period.
Since the dawn of time, women have known the same personal experiences. Accurate portrayal of these life events can help writers develop their historic characters into realistic and relatable friends.
Talking About Unmentionables: How Do Writers Research Topics That Were Taboo? A Brief History of Feminine Hygiene, Contraception, and Health
Kimberly Burns
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Friday Oct 16
2026 Annual Women Writing the West Conference registration portal
…writes historical fiction inspired by the colorful characters of the old west. Her two published novels and four short stories have received numerous awards. She and her adventurous husband divide their time between Florida, Virginia, and the open road.
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