Any Midol or "feminine hygiene spray" commercial is a good place to start.

ETA: I love this parody of a Midol commercial. Actually, it's the exact script of the commercial, only the women are played by young men.

Oh how I miss those Massengill commercials...

"Do you ever have that not-so-fresh feeling?"

"Mom, do you douche?"

There are a lot of commercials that lament the female 'time'. They've had some that poke fun at it 'Is she pmsing'? while the girl in question is wearing a bikini and in a good mood.

They talk about bloating, fatigue, etc. The latest commercial I say had the women all miserably flailing about, some trying to zip up their pants.

As always there is the question of to what degree media is simply reflecting the way women (as a composite average, huge variation in individuals) feel about their period or whether media is creating (as a composite average, huge variation in individuals) how women feel about their periods.

There's a huge difference between "that's a god sign that you are unclean, inferior, and generally despicable" and "wouldn't you rather not go through monthly discomfort." We control our bodies in so many other unnatural ways (including procreatively) that I don't see why menstruation would be some sacred inviolable area.

I'm not sure why there has to be a correlation between menstrual taboo and low self esteem, but if there is I'm sure it would be readily discoverable since the populations are pretty well self-defining and do a fair job of crossing socioeconomic lines. Do you know if anybody has done research into this?

Pretty much everything that come out of the human body is considered somewhat taboo (except, maybe, breast milk) so it isn't really surprising that there'd be some simliar attachment to mentruation.

Just don't breast feed it in public!

I have to admit, I have not had the time to read up on the links, so, I hadn't realized the 'unclean' 'low self esteem' issues.

I've never had either feelings. It has always just been something to have and be done with. I know a lot of moms who put their daughters on it {the pill} to help them with painful periods or to help regulate them. So, I've always looked at it as something we can/should have control over. Not it having control over us.

I think if it is possible to not have it for convenience sake, what a great opportunity. It isn't so nice to have to work and deal with it, that's for sure.

But, playing with my hormones does concern me. Personally. My body is on a nice even keel and while it would have helped me greatly when I was younger {although no one ever explained that it could do more than just prevent pregnancy} as I suffered greatly as it sounds like you did, CP.

Now, I have control over it not vice versa.

I even bought nice crisp white sheets. :p

Everything I learned, I learned from Disney.

well, not really.

I got too bored to watch it all the way through ;)

Midol was my savior for years until I developed reactions to strong painkillers. I now only use Midol for really bad times, which don't happen much anymore. I have nothing against Midol and other wonderful products that reduce pain.

Regarding commercials - commercials are commercials and will always say anything to sell their products. Talking about women being bitchy or bloated doesn't offend me - I've been both, have seen women being both, and know that both are wonderful things to avoid. I'm much more offended by the commercials for surface disinfectants. The idea that they are frighting the already OCD populace into believing that the whole house needs to be sanitized before touching it is pretty evil, especially in light of our already over use of antibiotics.

What he said.

Douching has had lots of bad press lately and IMHO rightfully so. Blech.

White sheets, Mousewife? Now that's freedom. ;)

I agree completely and would further add, "wouldn't you rather avoid the inconvienience?"

I am one of the lucky ones, my period causes no symptoms (other than the bleeding, of course), it's short, light and occurs like clockwork. Having said that, I would prefer to avoid it...not to the extent that I'm anxious for menopause or anything, but just because, well, because it's inconvienient.

And at least in my case, feelings of inconvienience are wholly different from feelings of dread or emotional suppression.

And I have to say that, while I'm sure it exists, I just don't believe that I've ever experienced society's "menstrual taboo".

See, I'm in a different position. My periods are irregular to the point of being wholly unpredictable, they last for a full week (hey, used to be 8 days!), and the pain can be unbearable. Something akin to having a knife drawn across my uterus. I'm seriously NOT kidding.

Thank god for Aleve, or I'd not be able to function in the "real world" Find a job that would tolerate you suddenly and unpredictably needing to go home due to being in screaming pain.

The general ickiness is a minor inconvenience next to that of never knowing when or if the cramps are suddenly going to take you down in a matter of seconds.