Talking about periods is pretty uncomfortable for most of us. We learn to hide tampons in our sleeves or in a cute makeup bag when we go to the bathroom, to talk in code about “Aunt Flo” or “that time of the month” and to try to hide any traces of this most basic biological process. We learn this through ads for menstrual products promising to hide odors, prevent leaks, and erase any sign of our periods. We learn this watching TV shows and films that make periods either a punchline or a trauma.

What we don’t learn is what’s really going on with our bodies when we menstruate, what’s “normal” and what isn’t, and how to actually talk about our periods. We haven’t yet learned not to be ashamed.

This exhibit, a collaborative project by 20 undergraduate students at James Madison University enrolled in Dr. Jen Almjeld’s Feminist Rhetorics course, works to take periods out of the shadows. We want girls – as well as people that love girls and want to learn more about girl culture – to start talking. Period. Here’s a space to learn about the history, cultural representations, and myths surrounding periods, about the biological processes and costs of menstruation, as well as ways to advocate for yourself and other menstruators.

Below you will find eight sections of our exhibit investigating girlhood and menstruation from many angles – including a “Letters to Our Younger Selves” guide written for you by a bit older girls and guys. We also include a collection of resources we gathered during our research for this project and an educational guide that might help you engage the exhibit in new ways.

Thanks for visiting our exhibit and for being brave enough to learn more so that period shame might someday end.

Authors

Alice Amaral, Hayden Bako, Genevieve Bavisotto, Reilly Blanton, Olivia Brown, Abby Camp, Eva Catapano, Ashley Cretella, Meghan Johnson, Victoria Marotta, Colleen McGreal, Ella Mearns, Ben Morris, Haley Nguyen, Alexa Perez, Emmy Reagan, Cynthia Roberts, Carolyn Salata, Sydney Shaver, Ella Stotzky

A Short Recent History of Periods

Learn about periods from the 1940s to the 2000s.

1940s-50s

Before the 1940s, menstrual products were usually homemade with strips of cotton or even store-bought sponges. During the 1940s, tampon use dramatically increased because of women’s involvement in World War II. Before the war, women were staying at home and taking care of the house, but during World War II, the world needed women to join the workforce and work in factories and offices. The popular tampon company Tampax, which has existed since 1933 and was founded by Gertrude Tendrich, had grown and was now displaying tampon ads in England for women who were helping in factories. There was still shame around using tampons, as many at the time thought that tampons might break your hymen, and that tampons might lead to “orgasmic pleasure.”

1950s-60s

In the 1950s, adverts for menstrual products continued to portray and perpetuate period stigma. A popular women’s magazine from 1885 through today, Good Housekeeping, advertised Moddess’ sanitary towels with the main appeal being newly designed, completely discreet packaging. The box containing the sanitary towels was changed to have the dimensions of other common household objects such as a napkin box and was wrapped with no identifying words or images on the outside. This is another example of how the media throughout the decades have reasserted shame around periods and period products – not to mention, taking advantage of it in order to sell products. While the tone and images used are lighthearted, the enforcement and pedaling of the message that menstruation is something that needs to be hidden at all costs is detrimental and unfortunately long lasting.

1960s-70s

The 1960s is when tampon use really started growing. Companies advertised tampons through secrecy, talking about how discreet their tampons were compared to “the next guy.” Not only were women shamed for using tampons possibly leading to pleasure, they were now expected to be extremely discreet and hide the fact they were using these products. Having a period was seen as a shameful part of your life that you should keep hidden. Check out this 1960s ad.

1970s-80s

A study published in 1975 by Virginia L. Ernster in the Sex Roles Journal of Research examined 128 American menstrual euphemisms, or ways to say something thought to be offensive in other, less offensive ways. The findings included analysis of how these euphemisms were learned, viewed, and interpreted by women and men. They revealed the continuing impact of period stigma and the intersection of misogyny at the time. It was found that girls learn menstrual euphemisms around the age when they get their first periods, a time known as menarche, and from other women and girls such as their moms or friends. For girls, these expressions were largely viewed as a code to use in front of males because of menstruation stigma. This perspective and type of use reveals the embarrassment and shame girls and women are made to feel from a young age about menstruation.

In contrast, the study found that males learn menstrual euphemisms, often misogynistic and associated with sex, around high school or college age from other male peers. The euphemisms men report learning and using were more often sexual and derogatory compared to the ones women use, revealing a double standard. The study concludes that the difference in usage of these euphemisms portrays the superstitions and stereotypes about feminine physiology. It points out that this language perpetuates negative cultural attitudes which especially affect women’s status in American society, re-solidifying misogyny.

1980s-90s

After companies started developing tampons that were meant to be used for your entire menstrual cycle, research started coming out about the toxic chemicals in these long lasting tampons leading to “Toxic Shock Syndrome.” By 1980, the CDC reported over 100 menstruation-related toxic shock syndrome cases. Just a handful of years later, in 1983, there were over 2,200 cases of toxic shock syndrome. This led to activists and advocates fighting for warning labels on tampon boxes to explain the danger of keeping tampons in for too long. The 1980s is also a revolutionary time for the menstrual cycle, with ads becoming more and more common on everyday cable television. Future stars such as Courtney Cox were starring in tampon commercials that aimed to further the normalization of menstruation.

1990s-2000s

In much of history, menstruation was made synonymous with impurity, toxicity, and even poison. While menstrual stigma has been researched more in the past century, we still may never be able to trace the origins of menstrual negative taboos, as they are not singular and likely pre-agricultural and pre-language. Chris Knight, a social anthropologist whose theory regarding the evolution of human social organization is recognized by peers as the most important to date, wrote a book, Blood Relations, in 1991. In his book, his theory asserts, essentially in two parts, that “menstrual taboos are at the center of the origins of patriarchy.” Patriarchy is a social system which gives males authority and power. The first part explores the potential origins of menstrual practices that benefited females and the second focuses on why and how the practices were changed and may be observable in the taboos that remain, millenia later. Prior to this publication, there was no comparable “theoretical framework for this deepset history of menstrual taboo.” Considering our research, this is yet another indication of the menstrual stigma, rooted in androcentrism, or the tendency to prioritize male ways of being and knowing over female ones in academia.

Representations of Periods

How periods are discussed in films, advertisements, books, and with other media affects us. Lots of us grew up watching Kotex or Always commercials featuring women dancing, running and playing as they menstruate. In these ads they are free of pain and show no signs of even the slightest physical discomfort, change in mood, or increased fatigue. Women in the ads were also usually financially well off and cis-gender (a person’s gender identity who matches the sex they were assigned at birth). Anyone who experiences menstruation differently might be tempted to think they are doing it wrong. We know lots of girls watched and internalized this fictional portrayal of the perfect period while writhing in pain or experiencing emotional shifts and turmoil. If your period doesn’t look or feel like it does in the movies or on TV – when they bother to even talk about it – you may even feel guilty or like there’s something wrong with you. These unrealistic expectations exist in the sneaky marketing language used to sell us period products and in cultural beliefs that periods should be undetectable.

Marketing often uses tactics designed to target emotions and persuade customers to buy products. Common emotions used to sell and represent menstruation are shame and fear. We are taught by all sorts of media to clean up and cover up our periods. Menstruation is a natural process, yet societal attitudes often teach us to view it, and ourselves, as unclean. For example, it wasn’t until 2011 that Always dared show a red spot on a pad in an advertisement rather than the more common blue liquid to represent leakage and absorption. In 2017, a TV ad in Britain by a company called Bodyform used red rather than blue liquid to represent period blood for the first time in a TV commercial. Bustle writer JR Thorpe explains that discomfort with menstrual blood has deep cultural roots as those who menstruate were long considered unclean and able to contaminate others. 

Even with more progressive ideas about naming and showing periods, a more recent trend in advertising called “femvertising” takes advantage of women and girls’ desire to speak more honestly about their bodies as brands use feminist ideals, sometimes insensitively and incorrectly, to sell products.

According to The Guardian, this phenomenon emerged during the fourth wave of feminism, with female empowerment being used to sell products and companies. A notable example is Pantene’s #ShineStrong campaign from 2014, featuring the viral commercial Sorry, Not Sorry. The ad highlighted how women over-apologize, presenting an empowering message to ultimately sell shampoo. When brands use these values for marketing, especially when the product is unrelated to the message, it feels disingenuous.

Unfortunately, due to pre-existing misconceptions in the media, women have overwhelmingly been pictured running half-marathons, getting up early, and being extra productive while on their period. While this can be reality, it often isn’t. These media misconceptions can make us feel shameful and powerless. The predominant message is that periods are either empowering and inspirational or invisible, never painful, inconvenient, scary or annoying.

A shift has started in recent years though with brands like August and HoneyPot celebrating bodily diversity and challenging stigmas around menstruation. They emphasize that every body is beautiful and normalize period blood by portraying it as it truly is, a natural bodily fluid. Menstrual fluid consists of blood, uterine lining, cervical mucus, and vaginal secretions. One standout ad campaign focused entirely on developing a period “blood” with the correct viscosity, demonstrating how they test their products.

Centuries of euphemisms like “that time of the month” or “the curse” coupled with no or unrealistic images of menstruating bodies makes it hard to know what your period should really be like. We hope projects like this one will continue to push back against the ways periods have been either ignored or misrepresented in the popular media by encouraging more girls and women to speak openly and honestly about their own menstrual journeys.

Understanding Periods

It is essential that girls and women understand their periods. An important part of this is understanding how, exactly, a period works and what biological processes are occurring. Listed below are several infographics created by members of our class designed to give an easy-to-grasp understanding of what bodies go through during the menstrual cycle. While this piece covers biological processes, we cast a much wider net when referring to women and girls. For us gender is not tied to the biological body, but is instead a chosen part of one’s identity.

The first infographic describes the four phases of the menstrual cycle detailing the menses, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases. The second infographic is about menopause — detailing what occurs when the menstruation cycle stops for good. Our final infographic serves as a resource for members of the trans/non-binary community, reminding readers that periods are not just for those labeled girls by biology. Also listed below are some resources that can help readers learn more. These infographics are simply introductions to complex processes that occur during menstruation. 

For more information on these topics, please consider visiting the following informative sites:

The four phases of the menstrual cycle detailing the menses, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases.

What occurs when the menstruation cycle stops for good.

Periods aren’t just for those labeled girls by biology.

Period Myths: What society isn’t telling you

What are the most ridiculous menstruation myths you’ve ever heard? Have you ever heard that women should not touch plants while on their periods because it could “kill the plant?” As ridiculous as this sounds, many people believe it to be true. Much of the world is uneducated on how menstrual cycles work and how they affect women’s daily lives. In fact, searching “period myths” on controversial social media app TikTok results in an almost endless stream of videos demonstrating how little people of all genders really know about this process.

The purpose of this section is to explore a topic that is commonly misunderstood and to address some of the most common period myths. The world is generally not comfortable with discussing periods, so let’s change that.

Yes, you can still get pregnant on your period. It may seem obvious, but some people remain convinced that women cannot become pregnant during their period. This myth is important for obvious reasons, but the biggest reason is to protect women’s health and bring awareness to this situation to prevent any unexpected surprises. According to a blog post by Planned Parenthood, a woman’s ovulation cycles can vary, creating windows of opportunity for a woman to become pregnant. This is also helpful information for those who don’t believe it’s important to track your ovulation cycle during menstruation.

No need to avoid water … or sharks. Despite what some people say, swimming while on your period is not disgusting or dangerous…rather it is very normal if you are protecting yourself and others. Swimming has actually been proven to be very beneficial for those on their periods, as exercise often helps those experiencing cramps or discomfort. If women wear products like tampons, they prevent any possible leakage and prevent any slim chance of infection. Also, no, you’re not more likely to be attacked by sharks.

Period pain is real. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not. Anyone who tells you differently may be lucky enough to not experience pain with their own period or may actually be trying to minimize your pain and feelings. Some people don’t experience pain during their periods, and that’s okay. However, for those who do, trust that it’s not in your head. In fact, there’s a scientific explanation for why your period might be painful. A deep dive into medical and technical texts reveals that your uterus cramps due to chemicals produced during your menstrual cycle.

Periods and period products aren’t shameful. You shouldn’t feel ashamed when you get your period. It’s supposed to happen, and needs to be normalized. You shouldn’t have to speak in censored tones. You bleed on your period, so you have to wear a product like a tampon or pad or period cup. These are just products for your use and health but myths and misinformation surround each of them. You shouldn’t feel ashamed if you believe some of these myths to be true. This is a societal problem rather than a personal one. When in doubt, refer to this exhibit and the helpful links in our Resources section.

Quiz Time

Take this common period myths quiz to test your knowledge before continuing!

What do you know about periods?

Menstruation Education: Public versus private/religious schools

After some conversation with peers, it’s apparent that when it comes to learning about menstruation, experiences vary wildly depending on where and how education is delivered. In public schools, the introduction to periods often starts between 4th and 6th grade, with lessons ranging from bare-minimum basics to a more thorough look at anatomy, cycles, and product options. However, the inconsistency, especially when external presenters take over, often leaves students feeling under-informed. Private and religious schools tend to focus less on the biological aspects and more on framing menstruation within moral or dignity-related contexts, sometimes at the expense of practicality. For those who moved between different types of schools or were homeschooled, the gaps in education may became even more noticeable.

This inconsistency highlights a broader issue: there’s no standard curriculum, which means education is hit-and-miss depending on the setting. Inconsistency in educational approaches to teaching about menstruation can leave girls feeling embarrassed, unprepared, and disconnected. Family members and peers often step in to fill the gaps, but even these conversations can be a mixed bag. While family input can be a lifeline, peer discussions often recycle myths about periods or offer incomplete information.

Also, the age at which you get your period matters. People I talked to who got their periods earlier or later than their peers felt out of sync with school lessons. For the early bloomers, the general nature of the information left them feeling unprepared. Late bloomers, on the other hand, found lessons not yet relevant.

To fill the resource gap in formal education, outside resources like books or the internet became the go-to sources for learning. Resources provided beyond the classroom, like books, counselors, and accessible materials, help bridge the gaps for some students. Early menstruation education is about more than just facts. It shapes how people perceive and experience this natural part of life.

Easing Period Pain

Period pain is no joke. And it’s very common, even though we don’t talk about it much. Most women experience some pain with their periods. But for some who menstruate – 15 percent or more – this pain may be severe enough to require medical treatment or miss school or work. Intense period pain is known as dysmenorrhea. Often period pain is overlooked or downplayed. For those with severe pain, medical treatment is needed. But for others there other ways menstruators deal with pain. The symptoms below are most commonly reported, but are not the only symptoms that can occur. Everyone’s bodies and periods are different. Please never be ashamed of any symptom you might be feeling and trust yourself to know when to seek medical attention.

Joint and Muscle Pain

Achiness in joints and muscles is often mistaken for general soreness. You can use a heating pad or hot water bottle on the affected joints to soothe stiffness and pain. Try warm baths with Epsom salt to help relax muscles and ease joint discomfort. Engaging in light stretching or yoga poses also may help. Low-impact exercises can improve circulation and reduce stiffness. And taking a walk might offer some relief. Staying still and resting might seem like a good idea, but often only makes you feel worse. Sleep is really important too. Getting enough rest is vital to keeping your body healthy.

Headaches and Migraines

Eating small, frequent meals with a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes. Hydration can also help ward off headaches so drink lots of water. Drinking 7 to 11 cups of water a day, depending on your age, is recommended. Other ways to relieve headaches during your period are cold compresses for the forehead or temples to reduce migraine pain or a warm compress on the neck or shoulders to ease tension headaches.

Fatigue and Brain Fog

Feeling mentally foggy or unusually tired are common symptoms of menstruation. Listen to your body. If you’re tired, allow yourself extra sleep or take short naps. Practice good sleep hygiene by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a calming bedtime routine. Food choices might help as well. Research suggests that anti-inflammatory foods like trail mix, dark chocolate, fruit and yogurt might ease pain by easing inflammation, or at least not making it worse.

Mood Swings and Anxiety

Sometimes there is increased anxiety or nervousness during your menstrual cycle. Limiting the amount of coffee, energy drinks, and sugary snacks may help as they can increase anxiety. Exercising also helps some feel better emotionally. Even light physical activity releases endorphins, which improve mood and reduce stress. Focus on calming exercises if you feel overwhelmed. Others have found that relaxation techniques like listening to calming music or white noise helps improve mood and reduce stress.

Recognizing period shaming

Periods – when talked about or seen at all in popular media – are often used as jokes or to depict trauma. TV shows poke fun at angry women during that ‘time of the month’ and dismiss women’s emotions as being caused by ‘being on the rag’. This history of shame and fear on the small and big screens goes back decades to 1970s films showing menstruation as threat like in the horror films Carrie and The Exorcist. More recently, Pixar’s 2022 Turning Red, is the animated story of Mei, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian middle schooler who turns into a giant red panda when experiencing strong emotions, many of them tied to lust, anger and her maturing body. The movie upset many who were uncomfortable seeing girls and periods represented in a film for kids.

We’ve been taught for generations to fear and feel ashamed of menstruating so any feelings you have about your period are normal and also not just about you. Shame and silence are two things we hope continue to change by talking more openly about our periods and our bodies.

Periods can be a pain. But the worst part to deal with when having a period can be the shame resulting from society’s misunderstanding and miscommunication around menstruating. We are taught to be worried about experiencing our first period or having it happen during an outing while in public. Society has created a stigma of this natural process as somehow disgusting and gross. Because of this, many have internalized this shame. Feeling shame is totally understandable – it’s what we’ve all been taught – but there is no shame in having your period.

Another part of period shame might come from waiting for your period to come while others around you have already gotten theirs. Seeing girls get excited over the fact that they experienced their first period, and feeling like the only one who has yet to undergo this change can make you feel left out. It might make you feel self-conscious about how your body is supposed to work. Remembering that menarche, the first occurrence of a period, can happen at widely different ages with some girls experiencing it as early as 8 and others at 16.

Jokes and offhand remarks about menstruation are all too common on TV, online, and at school. These seemingly harmless comments can trigger a sense of shame over something that is a normal part of growing up. We use humor to understand lots of complex things about growing up – love, embarrassment, sex – but constant joking about periods can make those who menstruate feel uncomfortable and ashamed of their bodies.

Medicating Periods

Countless girls around the world experience period irregularity and abnormal menstruation. A common way to control this irregularity is by starting birth control. A common misconception is that birth control is only used to combat pregnancy, but this is far from the truth. In this section, we discuss the several uses for birth control, its effect on menstruation, and clear up birth control myths.

Demographics

Because the name birth control can carry a stigma, users tend to keep it out of conversations. However, “nearly 65% of women between the ages of 15-49 in the U.S. use some form of birth control.” The number of women using birth control increases as they get older, but there is still a substantial amount of teen users with 37.2% of women aged 15-19 using birth control. Because this is such a significant amount of the population, it is unfair that there is such a lack of information regarding birth control.

Types of Birth Control

There are many types of birth control that may work for you. The hormonal methods are effective by releasing hormone progestin, which thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to reach an egg.

Hormonal birth control also safely stops ovulation, which means there is no egg for sperm to fertilize. It’s important to mention here that hormonal birth control does not protect you against STDs, so be sure to use condoms if using birth control for more than regulating your period.

Non-hormonal birth control is recommended for those who prefer or cannot have hormones due to medical reasons. Barrier methods block the sperm from getting to the egg, as well as protect you against STDs.

Learn about different types of birth control below and visit Planned Parenthood for more information.

Hormonal Birth Control - Birth Control Implant

An implant is a tiny rod implanted into your arm by a medical professional and protects you from pregnancy for up to 5 years. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control, over 99 percent. The implant can reduce or lighten the period, and it is estrogen-free, which is recommended for individuals with certain health problems. Side effects may include headaches, breast pain, nausea, weight gain, ovarian cysts, pain or bruising on the insertion, and infection on insertion.

Hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD)

An IUD is a tiny device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Each device has its own duration, but it can range between 3-8 years. Hormonal IUDs may reduce cramps and PMS, as well as lighten the period. Side effects may include pain and cramping after the IUD is inserted, spotting between periods, and irregular periods.

Birth Control Pill

The oral contraceptive  is a daily pill that is effective only if you always take the pill on time. There are two kinds of birth control pills: combination pills, which contain both estrogen and progestin hormones, and progestin-only pills (or mini pills). If you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. But in reality, people may forget or miss pills, so it is really about 93 percent effective. Certain medications may interfere with the pill, so it is important to speak with a doctor to see if this type of birth control is best for you. Both types of pills can reduce cramps and lighten periods. The combination pill can help with acne, cysts in your breasts and ovaries, endometrial and ovarian cancers, iron deficiency, and PMS. Side effects may include headaches, nausea, and sore breasts.

Birth Control Shot

The Depo-Provera shot is an injection that must be taken every three months. It is important to have scheduled appointments with a medical professional to receive injections every 12-13 weeks. It is more than 99% effective if an individual does not miss the injection appointment. In reality, the shot is 96% effective due to missed appointments. The shot is a great birth control to lighten or reduce periods. Some side effects include changes in your periods, nausea, weight gain, headaches, sore breasts, and depression.

Birth Control Ring

The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring that you insert inside the vagina. There are two types of rings: NuvaRing and Annovera. NuvaRing lasts for up to five weeks and must be changed about once a month, and the Annover ring lasts for one year, removing the ring for seven days after a 21-day cycle. If the ring is used perfectly  it can be 99% effective, but reality makes it about 93% effective. The ring can regulate your period, as well as lighten your period and reduce cramps. It can also help with acne, cysts in your breasts and ovaries, endometrial and ovarian cancers, iron deficiency, and PMS. Side effects include headaches, nausea, sore breasts, changing in your periods, and more vaginal wetness.

Birth Control Patch

This transdermal patch is placed on your body and releases hormones through your skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch is applied on the same weekday every seven days for three weeks. By week four, you remove the patch and do not apply a new one until the following weekday. If used perfectly, it is 99% effective, but the average effectiveness is about 93%. It can also help with acne, cysts in your breasts and ovaries, endometrial and ovarian cancers, iron deficiency, and PMS. Side effects include headaches, nausea, sore breasts, changing in your periods, and skin reactions on where the patch goes.

Non-Hormonal Birth Control - Copper Intrauterine device (IUD)

The copper IUD is a tiny device that is inserted into the uterus that uses copper to prevent pregnancy and is effective for up to 12 years. It is 99% effective and can also be used as an emergency contraception, similar to the morning-after pill. Side effects may include pain and cramping after the IUD is inserted, spotting between periods, irregular periods, heavier or longer periods, and more or worse cramping during periods.

Pros and Cons of Using Birth Control During Menstruation

The pill, also known as oral contraceptive, is the most common form of birth control. The average age girls start taking the pill is around 16 years old, “as it allows a young woman to be established in her cycle before potentially disrupting it,” according to obstetrician Rachel Kramer, MD.

Many young women start the pill to help with period cramps or maintain flow. The pill is also proven to help lower the risks of ovarian cancer, ectopic pregnancies, and cysts. Countless young girls will also start the pill to help treat their acne, because it “decreases the circulation of androgens, which decreases the production of sebum,” according to a Healthline article.

Some also start birth control to get rid of their period altogether. Each pack of birth control pills contains “sugar pills” for the last seven days of the cycle. These pills are considered placebos–their primary use is to  stimulate a period. These pills trigger “withdrawal bleeding” due to a drop in hormone levels. Many women decide not to take the placebos and just start a new pack to avoid unwanted bleeding.

When taking birth control, the uterine lining does not thicken or build up, so it is impossible to get a “real period” while taking the active pills. The withdrawal bleeding is considered a “fake period.” Skipping your period while taking birth control has been proven safe as long as you do so effectively– meaning you have enough pill packs to fill in the gaps for missing a week.

Birth control can also regulate the schedule of your period. Using birth control, you will know exactly what day you start and end your cycle. Each pack contains three weeks (21 days) of active pills, and the fourth week are the placebo pills so you can expect to start your period during the placebo week. The placebo pills serve as a reminder to take each pill every day and start your new pack on time.

One downside of this pill is it can cause spotting or bleeding in between periods, if not taken at the same time every day consistently. You may also need to test and see which type of birth control works best for your body. When starting the pill, you may also notice side effects such as headaches, nausea, irritability, or moodiness. The pill can also cause young girls to feel extra emotional and moody.

There are lots of misconceptions about birth control and what it does to a woman’s body. Although there can be side effects, that does not mean that they are all scary or life altering. If birth control seems to be having effects on you, there are lots of other options to try. Here’s some myths you might hear:

Weight gain is one of the most talked about side effects of birth control, and one of the myths most widely held to be true. The truth is that many women start birth control at a time when their body is changing, so they are likely seeing effects of regular body maturation and blaming it on birth control. There is no concrete evidence to prove that birth control itself causes weight gain. However, progestin may increase your appetite and cause cravings for higher calorie, sugary foods. If this is something you are considering, ask your doctor for birth control options with lower levels of this hormone.

Birth control does not “make you crazy.” Some birth control is hormonal, so it can affect your mood. If you feel as though your mood is changing or you are being affected by your birth control, there are non- hormonal options you can try or different mixes of hormones. Some hormones affect people differently, so what works for someone else may not work for you. It is totally fine to switch your birth control if you do feel your mood change. If you do start a new birth control, monitor how you feel and be aware of your surroundings over the first few weeks.

Birth control offers protection from pregnancy while you are on it, but when a person stops taking it, the effects are gone. It may take a few weeks for the hormones to get out of someone’s body, but when someone stops taking birth control, it stops working. In fact, being on birth control may make some fertility problems less prominent, such as endometriosis. The National Cancer Institute states that being on birth control reduces your risk of endometrial cancer by 30 percent. Some birth control allow you to skip your period, and this does not affect a person’s fertility either. If you are worried about fertility, or if that is one of the main reasons you are not considering birth control, talk to your doctor.

Selling Periods

No matter how available period products may be, the ability to access and afford them will always be a struggle for some. According to Harvard Health, there are, “nearly 22 million women living in poverty in the US who can’t afford menstrual hygiene products, a problem known as period poverty.” Additionally, 64% of women said that they have had trouble funding the menstrual products they need. Twenty-one percent of women face this problem every month. Those who are unhoused are at a much higher likelihood of not being able to afford the period products they need, and unfortunately, there are few free options. A big problem arises when a basic bodily function requires money.

This lack of access leads to unavoidable behaviors that can be dangerous or even deadly. According to Harvard Health writer, Huma Farid, MD, “I have had patients tell me that they use toilet paper or paper towels instead of pads or tampons because they cannot afford menstrual products. People with heavy periods requiring frequent changes of these products particularly face financial challenges, as they must buy even more pads or tampons than the average menstruating person.” If period products are used for too long, there is a heightened chance of complications such as vulvar irritation, vaginal discomfort, and even toxic shock syndrome. 

 

The cost of being female

In 1995, California passed The Gender Tax Repeal Act which made it illegal to charge different prices for products and services aimed at different genders. Previously, studies showed that 64% of businesses in major cities were charging a higher price, for example, to wash and clean a woman’s shirt versus a man’s. The goal was to regulate costs for services, such as haircuts and dry cleaning, because the product takes a similar amount of time, price, and skill. A few years later, in 1998, New York City’s mayor signed a similar law, adding fines for businesses that break this law. Since then, many states have banned the so-called pink tax, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Ohio. Despite this, studies show that women’s products cost an average of 7% more than similar products for men.

Product (men) Average cost (women) Average cost Price Difference
Razors $7.99 $8.90 $0.91
Deodorant $4.75 $4.91 $0.16
Shampoo / Conditioner $5.68 $8.39 $2.71
Children’s Shirts $13.95 $15.82 $1.87
Bikes and Scooters $81.90 $86.72 $4.82

The chart was created with info from “From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer.”

What is the Pink Tax?

The Pink Tax is the price inflation of products marketed toward women when similar products, like razors, shampoos, and deodorant, marketed toward men have a significantly lower cost. A 1994 analysis of a proposed, and later passed, law in California found that “women were paying $1,351 more per year for similar products and services compared to men.” Even if the cost of making women’s products is higher, the significance of how much money women have to spend for necessary products isn’t comparable to the amount of money men must spend. Gender-based marketing has a significantly higher cost for women than it is for men. In the end, the cost of production for women’s products does not equal how much more women end up spending.

Pink Tax Terms to Know

  • Tariff: Tariffs on imported goods vary based on gender. Some women’s products have more expensive tariffs than men’s, passing the cost of that tariff on to the women consumers. 

     

  • Marketing Costs: Some brands try to appeal to women by investing in making the packaging “pretty” and spending money on advertisements and because of this production costs rise and the sale price increases for consumers. 

     

  • Retailer: Third-party sellers and some brands raise prices for women’s products because they know they need them. 

     

  • Price Discrimination: Price discrimination happens when people are charged differently for the same goods or services. If sellers see that women will pay a certain price for a product, they’ll raise that price only for them. 

     

  • Uncompetitive Market: In certain industries, few brands are pushing out products. So, there is not a lot of competition to keep product prices low.

How Much Does the Pink Tax Cost?

Studies show that gender-based economic discrimination costs women in multiple ways. Women are more likely to pay more for things regarding healthcare, clothing, and housing than men. Additionally, women in some states still make, on average, 20% less on the dollar than men. On top of that, a New York pink tax study found that women’s products are, on average, 13% more expensive than similar men’s products, and this can cause significant financial impact. 

In America, one in four women and girls can’t afford menstrual products. The “tampon tax” adds up to an annual cost of $80 million! Also, when California passed the pink tax ban law, studies showed that women in California pay more than $2300 on goods and services per year than men do. The study also concluded that that is $188,000 in a woman’s lifetime and $47 billion for all women in California.

Supporting Menstruators

Menstrual health is an important part of overall well-being, but is often surrounded by stigma and silence. To change this, we need allyship and advocacy to create a culture where menstruation is treated as natural, normal, and supported. Being an ally means having open conversations, challenging harmful stereotypes, and pushing for better access to menstrual products and education for yourself and others. Advocacy takes this further by addressing bigger issues like period poverty and policies that make life harder for menstruators.

This project focuses on practical ways to show support, including what to do—and what not to do—when being an ally. It also looks at the history of menstrual rights, major policy changes over the years, as well as nonprofit resources to increase your international activism. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

How non-menstruators can be allies in supporting menstrual health

Menstruation isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a community issue that impacts workplaces, schools, and society as a whole. Individuals who don’t menstruate play a crucial role in breaking the stigma, addressing misconceptions, and supporting menstruators in practical and meaningful ways. This chart highlights the dos and don’ts of being an ally, offering guidance on how to foster a more inclusive and supportive culture around menstrual health.

Each point in this chart is informed by insights from leading resources in menstrual advocacy and education. For more detailed information, check out The Role of Men in Menstrual Health and Hygiene: How They Can Help.

Do's

Do initiate and normalize open conversations about menstruation. Express that menstruation is natural and not shameful, and encourage open discussions at home, work, and in the community.
Do educate yourself and others. Learn about the menstrual cycle, products, symptoms, and related challenges. Share this knowledge with peers to foster a broader understanding.
Do advocate for better access to menstrual products. Support initiatives that make products affordable and accessible in public spaces, schools, and workplaces, and advocate for fair policies like removing the “tampon tax.”
Do offer practical support. Be considerate and offer help, like picking up supplies or creating a comfortable space for rest if needed. This small act shows understanding and support.
Do engage in conversations that challenge harmful cultural practices. Support changing views that stigmatize menstruation in traditional settings, and show solidarity for social and cultural change.
Do advocate for gender equality in menstrual health discussions. Support menstruation education that is inclusive and engages men, encouraging all genders to understand and respect menstruation.
Do create inclusive environments. Work to make public spaces period-friendly by supporting access to clean facilities and safe disposal options, contributing to a supportive culture.

Dont's

Don’t reinforce taboos or avoid the topic. Avoid reacting with discomfort or dismissing the subject as “private” or “just a women’s issue.” This reinforces silence and stigma.
Don’t perpetuate myths or misconceptions. Avoid referring to menstruation as “dirty” or “impure.” These outdated ideas harm women and discourage open conversations.
Don’t overlook the economic burden of menstruation. Ignoring the cost of menstrual products for those who need them can contribute to period poverty and limit opportunities for people who experience periods.
Don’t assume one’s capabilities are limited. Avoid making comments that imply a menstruator is less capable during their period.
Don’t use gendered stereotypes to explain behavior. Avoid assumptions that can be disrespectful and minimize the person’s experience.
Don’t trivialize menstrual health as “only a woman’s issue.” Menstruation affects families, workplaces, and society as a whole, and reducing it to a “women-only” matter ignores its broader impact.
Don’t ignore the need for menstrual hygiene. Overlooking the importance of hygiene can impact women’s health, comfort, and participation in public spaces.

Menstrual Rights and Policy Change in the 21st Century

Learn more about important moments in tampon period history.

1972

A ban placed by the National Association of Broadcasters was lifted that prevented menstrual products from being advertised on national broadcasts.

1976

Congress imposed stricter laws on tampons and switched them from being classified as “cosmetic” to a “medical” device. There is still no requirement to list the ingredients in tampons. This did require tampons to undergo further testing, but Rely, a tampon made by Procter & Gamble, contained carboxymethyl cellulose, which made the tampon hyper absorbent. This led to toxic shock syndrome, and Japan even banned the product.

1980s

Tampon use begins to decline due to the effects and scares surrounding toxic shock syndrome.

1989

The FDA required tampon companies to implement a system of sizes and absorbency levels that led to those using tampons being better informed of how long they could leave their tampon inside.

2019

New York State becomes the only state that has made it a requirement to include a list of all the ingredients in tampons.

Ways to Increase Your International Activism for Those Who Menstruate

There are a multitude of nonprofits that support those in developing countries with access to menstrual care internationally:

Days for Girls
Days for Girls is an international organization that looks to provide access and education for those that have a lack of access to menstrual supplies. Days for Girls looks to increase access to menstrual supplies, shatter stigma through education, elevate menstrual health, and advocate for global policy change. Chapters of Days for Girls get together to sew menstrual kits that provide long-lasting menstrual products for those that were once required to shelter alone while on their menstrual cycle.

PERIOD.
PERIOD is an organization that distributes menstrual products for communities in need. They focus on busting the stigma around menstrual health, working to eradicate period poverty, and focusing on making the menstrual movement welcoming for all.

The Pad Project
The Pad Project is a global nonprofit addressing the lack of access to safe and affordable menstrual products. The main goals of the organization are Access, Agency, and Advocacy. The founders of The Pad Project started this organization because, “a period should end a sentence, not an education.”

What I Wish I Knew Before My First Period 

Resources

The resources below are woven into our exhibit and also include books, movies, websites and more that we consulted or found interesting but maybe did not include in the exhibit. We have divided the resources into three categories: Resources for Girls, Resources for Scholars, and Resources for Allies.

“All About Periods.” Nemours TeensHealth. 
This article offers clear and medically accurate information about menstruation, addressing common questions and concerns that teens may have.

Karjane, Nicole W. “What I Wish All Teens Knew about Long-Acting Birth Control.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 
Dr. Nicole Karjane shares her opinion on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and her recommendations for teens.

Ogbue – Nwosu, Nancy. The ABC Of Menstruation”: A girl’s guide to managing her period. Independently published. 2023. This book is a great resource for young women and parents as it covers the basics of mensuration in a simple way.

Olson, Elizabeth. “ What I wish I knew about my Period.” Rookie Magazine. April 23, 2013. 
Great tone of this article and how it addresses periods, very relatable for young people.

Schaefer, Valerie. The Care & Keeping of You. American Girl Publishing: 2024.
This book speaks directly to girls – age 8 and up – and has a section called “Big Changes” all about periods.

“Straightforward Answers To Your Tough Period Questions.” Girls Helping Girls.Period. 
This source covers key questions that teens often have, providing straightforward information on topics like the timing of a first period, blood loss, product options, and period irregularities—all aimed at making menstruation feel more approachable and normal for young people.

“A Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Periods.” CHOC. March 14, 2023. Great piece to inspiring parents to talk with kids and other young people about menstruation without feeling awkward.

Adewunmi, Bim. “The truth about period pain.” The Guardian. August 8, 2011. This article offers a great pop culture perspective on often-overlooked and discounted female pain.

Asati, A. M., Singh, S., Jain, C., & Sharm, A. (2021). “Comparison of Menstrual Hygiene Awareness and Practices among School going Adolescent Girls of Government and Private Schools.” Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. This piece focuses on menstrual education in a variety of educational settings.

“Birth Control.” Planned Parenthood. Website is an informative place to learn about various kinds of birth control and their effectiveness. Uses a Q&A format to guide the viewer to find what form of birth control their body may react to the best.

Digitale, Erin. “No more ‘just deal with it’: Helping teens have easier periods.” Scope: Behind the Headlines. September 18, 2023. Includes advice from a gynecologist who specializes in teens, covering healthy period patterns, common period problems, and myths about menstruation.

Druet, Anna. “How Did Menstruation Become Taboo.” Clue. May 22, 2024. Explores how menstruation remains “uncomfortable” for many to talk, hear, or read about.

Farid, Huma. “Period Equity: What is it and why does it matter?” Harvard Health Publishing. June 1, 2021. Takes on the issue of “period poverty” and poses the question of why period products are considered “luxury products.”

“From Cradle to Cane: The cost of being a female consumer.” NYC Consumer and Worker Protection. This study considers gender discrimination in pricing in New York State.

“Healthy Habits: Menstrual Hygiene.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2023. Great, reliable resource from the CDC with evidence-based guidelines and information on menstrual hygiene, emphasizing its importance for health and well-being. Also, Instagram posts for raising awareness about the topic.

“Informed conversations about periods and health are important.” Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. December 17, 2021. This article is useful in the conversation surrounding menstrual health and safety.

Iqbal, Nosheen. “Femvertising: How brands are selling #empowerment to women.” The Guardian. October 12, 2015. Iqbal examines ways feminist terminology and activist movements have been appropriated by corporations.

“Menstrual Health Resources.” Helping Women Period. Information about this great organization that provides a range of resources focused on menstrual health and hygiene, including educational materials and support for individuals and communities, making it a valuable tool for awareness and advocacy.

“Menstruation Cycle (Normal Menstruation): Overview and Phases.” Cleveland Clinic. Last updated 2022. Simple yet informative article offering understanding the biological process happening when normal menstruation occurs along with frequently asked questions.

“Menstruation.” Planned Parenthood. This space explains the very basic facts surrounding periods, how to track cycles, period products, and more.

Ott, Mary A., and Elizabeth Alderman. “Contraception Explained: Birth Control Options for Teens & Adolescents.” HealthyChildren.org, 8 Mar. 2024. Written by doctors, this resource shares the importance of parents teaching adolescents about contraception and condom use. Each contraceptive is given an estimated guide of effective use, as well as the pros and cons for each one.

Rutigliano, Olivia. “Take a Sigh of Relief: Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. is Wonderful.” Literary Hub. April 21, 2023. This resource praises the normalization of girlhood, coming of age, and menstruation, as well as how a film accurately acknowledges the societal aspects of these topics.

“Talking about periods at home.” Unicef. Offers useful guidance for helping young girls feel comfortable speaking about menstruation at home.

“Talking to Your Child About Periods.” Nemours Kids Health. October 2018. This site explains specifically that the age girls get their periods varies widely.

Wakeman, Jessica. “The Real Cost of Pink Tax.” Healthline. October 4, 2016. This article delves into the visual and financial differences of “pink” marketing.

Brouilette, Monique. “Who Uses Birth Control?” WebMD. August 9, 2024. This source may be useful as birth control is often prescribed to girls and women for regulating periods. This piece gives specific data exactly how prominent birth control is in girls’ lives and the impact it may have.

Dewani, Deepika, Pravin Karwade, and Kalyani S. Mahajan. “The Invisible Struggle: The Psychosocial Aspects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Cureus 15.12 (2023). This NIH resource explains PCOS and other related hormonal issues that many women experience, and discusses how these conditions can affect menstrual cycles as well as mental health, quality of life, and understanding of their body.

Kerber, Linda K. “Separate Spheres, Female Worlds, Woman’s Place: The Rhetoric of Women’s History.” The Journal of American History 75, no. 1 (1988): 9–39. This resource takes a longer view of womanhood and femininity as a whole rather than focusing on just menstruation. Specifically it discusses how womanhood is framed culturally.

Li, Shirley. “What the Controversy Over Turning Red Misses.” The Atlantic. March 25, 2022. This is a great resource that talks about why representations of menstruation, emotion and girls’ desire – all taboo subjects – matter.

“Menstrual Health and Hygiene.” World Bank Group. May 12, 2022. Offers a great introduction to global statistics on menstrual process and hygiene and what the challenges girls from around the world face.

Merone, L., Tsey, K., Russell, D., & Nagel, C. (2021). Sex and gender gaps in medicine and the androcentric history of medical research. Research Gate. This study covers the historical and ongoing consequences of androcentrism in medical research; it directly discusses and unpacks medicine as a patriarchal instituion as part of the gender gap that hinders women from being “equals in modern society.”

Owen, Lara. “Researching the researchers: The impact of menstrual stigma on the study of menstruation.” Open Library of Humanities (2022). This study is aimed at understanding the stigma surrounding menstruation and its nature and impact on menstrual research, including focus on strategies such as silencing and marginalization.

Przybylo, Ela, and Breanne Fahs. “Empowered bleeders and cranky menstruators: Menstrual positivity and the “liberated” era of new menstrual product advertisements.” The Palgrave handbook of critical menstruation studies (2020): 375-394. This source considers representations of menstruation in advertising including “‘commodity feminism,” “marketplace feminism,” or “femvertising.'”

Shah, Sanober Fazal, et al. “Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among girls in Ghizer, Gilgit, Pakistan.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20.14 (2023): 6424. This article covers a study that took place in many different countries on menstrual hygiene and its relation to girls in said countries.

Stein, Elissa and Susan Kim. Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation. St. Martin’s Griffin: New York. 2009. This text offers a readable cultural history of menstruation with a focus on advertising, magazines, television and other representations of menstruation.

Taylor, Kelley R. “Pink Tax: What does Price Discrimination Cost Women?” Kiplinger Personal Finance. September 6, 2024. This article considers the financial impact periods and other products marketed to women have on consumers, comparing certain “female” product prices to men’s products. It also explains how the wage gap makes the pink tax worse for women.

Thiyagarajan DK, Basit H, Jeanmonod R. Physiology, Menstrual Cycle. [Updated 2024 Sep 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. This scholarly article offers pretty heavy detail about the menstruation process and discusses each step in the menstrual cycle.

Trnka, Susanna. “Languages of Labor: Negotiating the ‘Real’ and the Relational in Indo-Fijian Women’s Expressions of Physical Pain.” Medical Anthropology Quarterly 21, no. 4 (2007): 388–408. This source takes on women’s pain and the rhetoric surrounding it. While not specifically about menstruation, periods are painful for many so this source might take on how menstrual pain gets underplayed.

Wolski, Anna. “What is the Pink Tax and its Influence on Consumers?” Rocket Money. January 9, 2024. This article explains the history of the pink tax – which directly impacts period products for girls and women – and discusses current laws surrounding the pink tax.

Wiggleton-Little, Jada. ““Just” a painful period: A philosophical perspective review of the dismissal of menstrual pain.” Women’s Health 20 (2024): 17455057241255646. This scholarly article invites readers to think about what “just being on your period means” and how it is actually a bigger deal for some menstruators than it is represented to be.

Education Guide

Click here to download the Girls Period Education Guide to go with our exhibition.

Pin It on Pinterest