NOT A GIRL, NOT A WOMAN

The Design and Production of a Comic Zine about Transgender Menstruation for High-School Youth in Metro Manila

Anja Contreras

Many cultures around the world regard menstruation as the mark of womanhood. In the Philippines, this is reflected in the concept of pagdadalaga. At the onset of their first period, a child is considered a dalaga, with new sex-gender roles and expectations to follow. However, the scope of this standard is limited and poses as potential mental and social distress to those who do not fit or ascribe to it. These can include women that do not menstruate, and more notably, non-women that do, like transgender men. Thus, there is a need to broaden current ruling perspectives of menstruation and gender by presenting alternative and lesser-known ones.

Not a Girl, Not a Woman is a 20-page comic zine that aims to introduce (trans)gender issues to Filipino high schoolers aged 13-18 in an accessible way. It tells the story of a transgender teenager’s experience with periods, and coming to terms with the facts they are not the dalaga everyone thinks they are. The publication is prepared for both digital and print consumption.

Anja is a soon-to-be Visual Communication graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman. They are an illustrator, storyteller, and cat person.

Email: theanjacontreras@gmail.com
Portfolio: tinyurl.com/anjacontreras