Who invented kotex

That stigma is one reason why - according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Unesco - one in 10 girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their periods. Dr Edward Clark might have approved but this is a serious matter: after falling behind, some girls drop out entirely.

It's not just the stigma - there's also a lack of access to clean water and lockable washrooms. And, of course, there's the problem Mr Muruganantham was trying to solve: many young women simply can't afford the menstrual products others take for granted. William Faulkner may have felt alienated by the Kotex age - but nearly a century later, many women are still waiting for that age to arrive.

The author writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. Free period products available to schools.

Menstrual cups 'as reliable as tampons'. Could the menstrual cup eradicate period poverty in Kenya? The sanitary pad revolutionary. Image source, Alamy. And women have had good reason to keep it quiet. Image source, The Advertising Archives. More things that made the modern economy:.

The tiny pill which gave birth to an economic revolution How formula milk helped women go back to work How fire made us human, and forged the modern economy The accidental Singer sewing machine revolution.

Image source, Getty Images. But in many parts of the world, it's no joke. Arunachalam Muruganantham's story was featured in the documentary Menstrual Man. Kenyan schoolgirl takes her own life after 'period shaming' Could the menstrual cup eradicate period poverty in Kenya? Periods: Can women sharing stories break down taboos? The Museum traces its origins back to , when it consisted primarily of a collection of militia artifacts. Its opening not only marked the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe V-E Day but also the th anniversary of the Museum itself.

Since its opening in , the Museum has welcomed approximately , visitors every year. Jul 14, By: Canadian War Museum. Innovation Storybook. We fight for a future that includes access to all reproductive health care no matter your zip code or employer. Missouri must lead the charge. Are you with us? Press enter to search. The first menstrual cups were made of aluminum or hard rubber; now, they are typically made of silicone 2.

Some more extreme options were presented, including a powder that could be inserted into the vagina, which was meant to neutralize the pH of period blood and prevent bacterial growth 3. Mini-pads were a huge success when they hit the market, even inspiring fan letters from women who finally felt comfortable 1. As the feminist movement pushed women to become comfortable with their bodies, free bleeding was adopted by women who resented the fact that they were expected to hide and feel ashamed of their periods though it was hardly mainstream 3.

This invention came out of research on safe abortions 8. Women used a suction device to evacuate all the contents of the uterus, shortening periods from around 5 days to just a few minutes.

The procedure was seen as a blessing for athletes and people with especially painful periods, and the inventors patented safer and more effective tools throughout the s 5. In spite of the benefits, research into the safety of this procedure was restricted, partly because of its association with early abortions 5. The method required a doctor to perform the procedure, making it potentially costly 3. This plus the lack of medical data investigating potential long-term effects prevented it from becoming mainstream.

Today there are a plethora of options for managing periods, from period panties to menstrual cups, organic pads and tampons, and, of course, the still-prevalent standard tampons and maxi-pads. Even the cloth options from the s are making an updated comeback, with more and more options for anti-microbial period panties hitting the market.

As concern about the environmental impact of disposable products grows, many are returning to reusable organic methods, like the menstrual sea sponge and silicone cups though both have been associated with cases of TSS 10, 12, As people with periods learn more about our options, we are able to take our health into our own hands, making the best decisions for our own bodies and lives. While women have always been intimately involved with the development of period products, female entrepreneurship continues to grow in this market.

Products and ad campaigns are also shifting to focus more on all bodies that get periods, including trans men and gender non-binary people. From early on, the expectation ironically was that by hiding their menstruation, women were seen as more feminine, hygienic, and capable. From patents to pilots, menstrual technologies have been opening doors for women and people with cycles throughout history.