A Social History of Feminine Hygiene Products

A Social History of Feminine Hygiene Products

"It's only natural for women to have periods!"
If we're too shy to talk about sanitary napkins, how can we tell the history of women?
· How did women manage menstrual blood before the advent of sanitary napkins?
· Why was menstruation considered taboo, seen as a sign of bodily impurity?
· How have "menstrual taboos" around the world hindered women's participation in society?
· How have feminine hygiene products evolved?
· How many sanitary pads does each woman use in her lifetime?
...
Menstruation is a beautiful symbol of female physiological maturity. However, for a long time under patriarchal values, menstruation was regarded as a religious and cultural taboo, a manifestation of bodily impurity, and even caused women a sense of shame. The emergence of feminine hygiene products has not only protected women's health and happiness but also changed women's consciousness, giving them a positive understanding of menstruation.
Every woman uses over 10,000 sanitary pads from menarche to menopause. Yet, we know surprisingly little about such an intimately important item. This book takes the development and evolution of feminine hygiene products as its main thread, introducing how women managed menstrual blood before the advent of sanitary napkins, analyzing menstrual taboos around the world that have hindered the development of feminine hygiene products, focusing on the birth, decline, and social significance of "Anne Sanitary Napkins," the progenitor of disposable sanitary napkins in Japan, and briefly discussing the performance and issues of current disposable sanitary napkins on the market.
The advent of sanitary napkins enabled countless Japanese women to stride into society during a period of rapid economic development, making significant contributions to economic growth. This book is not only a social history of feminine hygiene products but also reveals the changes in Japanese society and, more importantly, showcases the awakening process of women's bodily autonomy.
*A representative work by Japanese historical sociologist Ms. Tanaka Hikaru, a bestseller for 10 years, reprinted 10 times

2025-01-01

湖南文艺出版社

Pu Rui Culture

320

9787572621581