See a later Dutch Mønlykke ad. See another Dutchman holding a pad! And a pleased Frenchman!
Read the fascinating Gilbreth report and see another example of Dutch honesty - and American squeamishness.
Pad directory
See a Modess True or False? ad in The American Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates)
CONTRIBUTE to Humor, Words and expressions about menstruation and Would you stop menstruating if you could?
Some MUM site links:
homepageMUM address & What does MUM mean? | e-mail the museum | privacy on this site | who runs this museum?? |
Amazing women! | the art of menstruation | artists (non-menstrual) | asbestos | belts | bidets | founder bio | Bly, Nellie | MUM board | books: menstruation and menopause (and reviews) | cats | company booklets for girls (mostly) directory | contraception and religion | costumes | menstrual cups | cup usage | dispensers | douches, pain, sprays | essay directory | extraction | facts-of-life booklets for girls | famous women in menstrual hygiene ads | FAQ | founder/director biography | gynecological topics by Dr. Soucasaux | humor | huts | links | masturbation | media coverage of MUM | menarche booklets for girls and parents | miscellaneous | museum future | Norwegian menstruation exhibit | odor | olor | pad directory | patent medicine | poetry directory | products, current | puberty booklets for girls and parents | religion | Religión y menstruación | your remedies for menstrual discomfort | menstrual products safety | science | Seguridad de productos para la menstruación | shame | slapping, menstrual | sponges | synchrony | tampon directory | early tampons | teen ads directory | tour of the former museum (video) | underpants & panties directory | videos, films directory | Words and expressions about menstruation | Would you stop menstruating if you could? | What did women do about menstruation in the past? | washable pads
Leer la versión en español de los siguientes temas: Anticoncepción y religión, Breve reseña - Olor - Religión y menstruación - Seguridad de productos para la menstruación.


Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health

Kotex menstrual napkins and Dutchmen in an ad series
(2000, the Netherlands)

The Dutch might be the more liberal people in the world! Dutch ads for menstrual products have featured men as far back as 1978 and don't shy away from the nuts and bolts of menstruation (here).

The kind Dutchman who has sent so many items to MUM sent these scans and information.

The title of this ad translates as "Boys & Menstrual pads." "Boy" seems common in European advertising; see this German ad for panty pads, which actually contradicts the ad below. (The Dutch word for boy is actually jongen.) And see an ad from a German magazine called Girl!
From Fancy magazine, for teens, November 2000.
 
I translate the yellow box (enlargement at bottom) as:
[Title above the box: What do boys have to do with menstrual pads?]
Boys [the real Dutch word is jongen] also use menstrual pads!
Really true! Nooo, they don't have a period [see ongesteld - period - in a Dutch cartoon strip]. Boys use them in their ski boots or skates against the blade. Or on their shoulders when carrying a heavy rucksack. Really!
Do boys know what a period is?
94% know how often girls have their period.
The average duration is a little overestimated. 20% think that it lasts 7-8 days or longer. You can use that to your advantage.
65% know what roughly happens. In any case it's about making a little egg.
Boys who just don't understand.
3% think that a half liter of blood is lost! That's an egg cup [for boiled eggs].
13% think the menstrual pad is thicker than 2 cm [almost an inch]! You don't want to even think about that. . . . Kotex Ultradun is for instance only 3 mm thick [about 1/8"].
30% think you can buy menstrual pads in the colors rose or light blue. And a number think you can buy red ones. Unbelievable, huh?
Helpful boys
Of course there are boys who know how to spoil you.
38% get menstrual pads for a girlfriend.
50% understand fatigue and irritation. You're in luck!
 

NEXT ad in the series (FIRST ad in this series)

See another Dutchman holding a pad! And a pleased Frenchman!
Read the fascinating Gilbreth report and see another example of Dutch honesty - and American squeamishness.

Copyright 2007 Harry Finley