We're mature enough to talk about menstruation, right?

Well Aunt Flow came for her visit. I mean, geeze, usually she gives me some warning. Nope, she just dropped on by this month, no word or telegraph. I tell ya, it was a total surprise.

It got me to thinkin' I wonder how ladies in the Golden Era took care of their monthly visits. So I looked through some of my old catalogs, to see what types of products they used, and oh boy, am I GLAD for the invent of modern adhesive!

I dont think I could have dealt with all the clips and hooks and belts and seat guards, sheesh!

Here are some scans from some of my 30s and 40s catalogs highlighting some of the products that were for the gal on the go with her monthly.

From my Montgomery Wards '36 catalog.

Even Lane Bryant had us stout gals covered with properly sizes menstruation belts. Of course, Sears the top of the everyday department store gave all women variety and confidence in this department.

These are war time scans and with gals working to do their parts, manufactures wanted to make extra sure women had confidence during their monthlies. I mean, look at that picture, the one with the multiple drawings.

I had no idea you could dance during your period! Thank you, Kotex.

5 comments:

  1. Oh, how funny! I was thinking of this yesterday. If you've ever read "The Red Scarf" girl, the main character talks about it.
    I thought it was funny they covered it on 1900's house, but not 1940's house :( Boo! I know a lot of women sew their own these days, and I imagine it has got to be similar to what they used back in the day, just updated because of the difference in underwear.
    Thanks for the scans!

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  2. My first experience in the early 70's involved a sanitary belt and pads with long tails that you fed into the belt ends. cumbersome and uncomfortable. This is one area of my life I am happy to leave in the present and not deal with in a vintage way!

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  3. Thank you for sharing those scans! I, too, am thankful for the modern advances in this department! I always wonder how women handled their monthlies - the bloating, cramping, etc...was it as bad as some of us have it today? Debilitating pain or extreme mood swings? Lighter or heavier? Regular visitors, or unexpected? As odd as it may be, inquiring minds want to know!

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  4. Too funny. My mother had a hystrectomy when she gave birth to me (I know, a lot was going on). By the time I began to menstruate she was soooooo out of the loop. We had to go to the store and ask folks how it worked now. We were both mortified.

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  5. Thank you for posting this post with these pictures! I have wondered for years what my grandmothers and their fore-mothers used before the introduction of Kotex pads.

    I got the nerve up to ask one of my grandmas (perhaps because she was the adult to help me when my periods first started) and she told me that they "used to use rags". She was so obviously embarrssed I didn't dare ask how that worked, but I really wanted to know.

    Oh, the belted pads! I started out with those. I am one person who found them comfortable to wear, and when they shifted you knew it and could head to a restroom to correct the problem. Unfortunately those new-fangled cloth pads that snap or button around the underwear crotch can shift and leave your clothing unprotected. Sigh! I've had more problems with them than the belted pads!

    ReplyDelete

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