In case you haven't heard, there is a new product and method for women dealing with periods; meet THINX: Period Panties For Modern Women.
If you think it is uncouth to speak of periods, turn back now. There is no shame here. What we have is the newest evolution in period technology and it is too big to speak of in whispers.
Tampon and Pad companies try to fresh-up our selections but nothing has been as revolutionary as the standard form they currently exist in, unless you count the DIVA cup, which not many do. It has been a miracle for some, but others either don't know about it (it isn't found in most feminine hygiene sections) or don't feel comfortable placing silicone anywhere up there. But still, at least new concepts are forming.
(Read the fine print)
The concept of the pad was conjured up by nurses in France, who needed a more efficient way to dress soldier's wounds from battle. Shortly after, in 1888, the Southball's pad was made. In the United States, we had Lister's Towels the same year, by Johnson & Johnson. The secret, supposedly leak-proof material is wood pulp, called Cellucotton.
(Click here to read about "The Menstrual Man" who made it possible for women in his village to attain and afford sanitary napkins.)
Earlier this week, "Slate" published an article about the THINX versus MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) debacle. THINX's CEO, Miki Agrawai, has been waiting for a month to hear if ads for the underwear are approved to be featured in buses and subways in New York City.
In the meantime, criticism rose from a representative of Outfront Media, an owner of outdoor media revenues. They've approved (as mentioned by Slate) an ad for breast augmentation, in which grapefruits and oranges are held at breast level with the tagline: "Are you beach body ready?" Yet, they worry that ads for THINX: Period Panties For Modern Women will be too inappropriate for young children on MTA. If I remember correctly, there is an ad for cocaine addiction that shows an image of white powder. Do children not worry about that? If anything, those battling addiction would not feel safe looking at the visuals of that ad.
Women in sweaters and turtlenecks are deemed too revealing, although no cleavage whatsoever is featured. When Agrawal pointed these issues out, she was accused of, and told not to, make it a "women's issue." What they're saying is, "Don't bring this issue to light."
