WomenWomenWomen's HealthWomen and Advertising

How An Underwear Brand Is Trying To Change The Conversation About Periods

How An Underwear Brand Is Trying To Change The Conversation About Periods
Open Image Modal
By 

Senior Women's Reporter, HuffPost

|

Period stories have traditionally been relegated to the "most embarrassing moment" section of teen magazines. Now, a women's performance underwear brand is trying to change that.

Dear Kate's "First Time" video, directed by Process Media's Mary Harron, includes short interviews with over 20 women about the first time they got their periods. Instead of being shrouded in shame or the "ick" factor, the anecdotes are funny, honest and varied.

"It was definitely pink, it wasn't red like it is now -- and it looked kind of stickyish," says one woman. "And I thought, 'huh, how did melted candy get into my underwear?'"

"I sort of looked down and my immediate thought was, 'Oh shit! This is where I'm gonna die,'" quips another.

Dear Kate founder Julie Sygiel told The Huffington Post that the idea for the video was born out of personal experience. "It's surprising that even though I've had my period for 16 years and consider myself comfortable with the topic, I still find myself whispering at the office to ask if someone has a pad or tampon if I'm in need," she said. "Why is there an uncomfortableness surrounding periods? When we talked with friends, we realized that it started when we first got our period."

The discomfort about menstruation many women grow up with is furthered by the fact that honest depictions of menstruation in advertising, the media and pop culture are few and far between. Menstrual pad and tampon ads often use blue liquid to represent blood, and just last month artist Rupi Kaur's photograph of a fully-clothed woman bleeding through her sweatpants was removed from Instagram twice.

It's this stigma that the women behind Dear Kate hope their video can challenge.

"By sharing our stories, we can reframe the way periods are talked about and eliminate the shame that often accompanies them," said Sygiel.

Cheers to that.

H/T BuzzFeed

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Nicknames For Periods
(01 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A really bad horror film about a group of teens who drive their car out into the woods and get haunted by a ghost.
But what you're actually referencing: There are cramps, and yes, blood to deal with, but getting your period isn't a curse of any sort — it's part of being a woman of a certain age. Periods involve our ovaries releasing eggs, while hormonal changes prepare our uteruses for pregnancy. See ... not so scary.
(02 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A really cool and urban aunt who likes to listen to hip hop and buy vinyl records
But what you're actually referencing: Aunt Flo only visits once a month (a 28-day cycle to be exact). She is kind of uncomfortable, annoying and her conversations never stops flowing...
(03 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Your really really really old aunt who has a kind soul.
But what you're actually referencing: Similar to her sister Aunt Flo, Aunt Rose seems to be the nicer of the two: Because we all know things like rose petals and rose bushes resemble menstruation.
(04 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Like you have a giant wound and you can't stop bleeding. Ever.
But what you're actually referencing: You're being pretty literal here, but yes, a period means you're bleeding from your vagina.
(05 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A really trendy urban cafe.
But what you're actually referencing: The dot/dots that appear on your liner, pad and sometimes on your bed sheets and underwear. Also, dot = period.
(06 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Not just any friend, but a really annoying friend you don't like.
But what you're actually referencing: Sometimes we try to make the best of what life throws at us by staying positive and remembering our periods can be our friends.
(07 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: When the plumbing went wrong ... for a week.
But what you're actually referencing: Again, the leak refers the constant flow of blood coming out of your body. We also assume people are referring to leaks they get on their pants or bedsheets. The worst.
(08 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Time of the month sounds like a hush-hush thing that happens to your body that only you and members of a secret club understand.
But what you're actually referencing: TOTM refers to time of the month when your period is taking place — just so we're all on the same page.
(09 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A newsletter or a magazine that comes out once a month
But what you're actually referencing: To add emphasis that everything is cool with your flow and your period only happens once a month.
(10 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Teenage slang
But what you're actually referencing: PMS actually stands for premenstrual syndrome, and isn't a synonym for your period at all.
(11 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A dirty old cloth you use to wash your dishes and floor
But what you're actually referencing: The rag is closely related to the pad or tampon we wear during periods... and how uncomfortable it is. It's also an unfortunate visual.
(12 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like:This river in China!
But what you're actually referencing: We're not sure with the obsession of words like "river," "water" or "flow" when it comes to describing your period. Our best guess? The assumption that when a woman is on her period, she is forever bleeding.
(13 of13)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: It sounds like what it is, the bleeding elevator from the 'The Shining.'
But what you're actually referencing: Periods are scary and women bleed and if you see/talk about this blood, something terrible will happen. Get a grip, people — the only thing frightening about periods is using phrases like "the shining" to describe it.
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip