MENSTRUATION
Euphemisms
Aunt Rose (other names) is visiting
Bloody Mary
Bitchy witchy week
The Curse
Blow job week
Dracula’s tea bag
Little Red Riding Hood in the woods
Closed for maintenance
Shark bait
Red flag
Old Faithful
A bit of history
Goddess-worshipping societies
Menstruation sign of magic power: bleed
but not die
Vaginal blood (also from childbirth)
considered valuable
Patriarchal societies: vaginal blood is evil,
dirty, ruins what it touches, women
isolated during menstruation.
Contemporary View
Disease model
Pain
Disability
Mood swings
Unwanted physical changes
Shameful, embarrassing
PMS
Need for a pharmaceutical solution
Pharmaceutical industry self-serving
Many researchers and physicians on their
payroll
Reinforcement of negative expectations
through advertising
Negative expectations and anxiety
aggravate physical symptoms
Possible contributors:
Bad diet
No exercise
Smoking
Endometriosis
Cultural inhibitions re. women and anger
Pharmaceutical industry’s role
Profits from drugs to combat PMS,
cramps, etc.
Profits from “feminine hygiene” products
(pads, tampons)
Profits from new drugs to eliminate
periods
Profits from selling more drugs to combat
side effects of above drugs
Sanitary products: Danger!
Ads promote anxiety about public
exposure and about dirtiness
Two billion $/year
No controls or disclosures for ingredients
Bleaching agents carcinogenic (dioxin)
Absorbent fibers absorb protective
moisture from vulva and vagina, causing
drying and ulceration
TSS (bacteria breeding ground)
Environmental Damage
Disposable sanitary products contaminate
water sources, both at factory sites and
when disposed.
Dioxin affects fish, birds, etc.
If incinerated, toxic gases released (acid
rain, global warming)
Alternative products are available!