“Use Your Period For Good.”
Did I really see this statement/command/slogan on the TV this morning?
Oh yes.
Apparently, Tampax is out to save the world and this is their new slogan. For every overpriced piece of cotton shelved in a plastic applicator that you purchase to place in your most sacred of places, Tampax will be so kind to donate some pennies to their own Protecting Futures program which they say will provide young girls in Africa with sanitary products and help them go to school.
I am not even going to link to the Tampax site because I think this is such a load of sh*t. If you want more info you will have to find it yourself. Or just wait for the commercial. You’ll see it soon enough.
Is it not bad enough that women spend hundreds of dollars on their own feminine hygiene products each year? Are we not sufficiently contributing to somebody’s wealth? Now, we need to feel bad when we don’t proclaim our brand loyalty to Tampax? If we choose natural, reusable or goddess-forbid, environmentally friendly products like the Diva Cup or sea sponges to manage our flow, are we using our period for EVIL?
Give me a flipping break.
Here is a little bit more that you should be aware of before you shell out your hard-earned cash for Tampax or any other mass-produced tampons. This is from Rebecca Cannon at the Natural Products Marketplace. Emphasis is mine:
The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999, passed by Congress, stated many tampons, sanitary pads and even diapers contain dioxins, by-products of the bleaching process used in the manufacturing of paper products. The EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirmed dioxins are possible human carcinogens that also put women at risk for “effects that could suppress the immune system, increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, reduce fertility, and interfere with fetal and childhood development.” The bill goes on to cite an independent study that found mass-market tampons contain additives such as chlorine, absorbency enhancers, synthetic fibers, deodorant and fragrance. These additives, especially synthetic fibers, amplify toxin production associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a bacterial illness that occurs mainly in menstruating women.
Update: It seems I have more to say.
Tags: , commercial-products, diva cup, environment, feminine hygeine products, feminism, girls in africa, lunapad, protecting futures, sanitary products, sea sponges, tampax, use your period for goodRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Stuff, news and events
10 opinions for “Use Your Period For Good.”
Emily
Dec 8, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Hi there, wandered over via a circuitous route :-)
*headdesk*
Good points you’re making. I mean, it’s a fab idea– giving girls feminine product-thingies so they can stay in school– but if these people can’t afford tampons or they aren’t available to them, it makes A LOT more sense to give them re-usable products. But oh yeah, Divacup doesn’t have a huge advertising budget, so I guess the African kids are stuck with tampons. Laame.
Gabrielle
Dec 8, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I agree - I’m not opposed to helping young women get to school but this route seems so self-serving and wasteful. While I appreciate the awareness of an issue that I didn’t really know existed, I resent the peddling of questionable products when there are so many safer and environmentally-friendlier options. I mean, what happens when Tampax cuts off their generosity? If these girls don’t have access to sanitary products, do they really have access to sanitary ways to dispose of them?
Emily, thanks for your comment. I wandered over to your site as well. Should I be embarrassed since I probably have listened to “If You’re Feeling Sinister” 100 times? :)
Emily
Dec 9, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Yep yep indeed. And 90, 100, 200– who’s counting? ;-)
Apache Rose
Dec 22, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Just saw the commercial about 3 min ago…I laughed outloud when I heard their campaign. It’s like having a period is that bad!
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Dec 27, 2007 at 7:22 pm
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Karen
Jan 14, 2008 at 1:42 pm
What have I been doing so far– using my period for bad?
Gabrielle
Jan 14, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Exactly what I was thinking!! I guess us and our nasty periods are to blame for all of the world’s ills. Thank goodness Tampax is here to show us the way….
(hey, thanks for your comment. :) )
shalley
Jan 16, 2008 at 12:57 am
I ‘m so glad that I’m not the only one that has questioned that stupid Tampax ad. It reminds of the Nestle’ corporations doling out of infant formula in third world nations 2 decades ago. The formula was pushed and breast feeding was probably touted as old fashioned. Then when the mothers got used to the stuff the Nestle’ Company no longer gave it out free. Women could not afford the formula and were adding more water that weakened the nutritional value.
Women do not need tampons or sanitary napkins, there are other ways as mentioned above. I’m so angry with companies that try to con us.
Kalia
Mar 14, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I am so glad to see I’m not the only person who thinks this is a ridiculous and horrible idea. there’s not even a mention anywhere on the tampax website about varying cultural views of menstruation. this is just another example of america (and/or american corporations) thinking that we have all the answers and we’ll HELP modernize the rest of the poor, ignorant world.
Gabrielle
Mar 15, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Kalia, I found something today that makes a lot more sense. Check this out.
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