Half of the world’s population menstruate at some point in their lives. Even so, the topic is still taboo for many. The exhibition ranges from products to works of art to habits and customs related to the theme. Among the 30 participants in the guided tour of Flow: the menstruation exhibition, on display until October 6 at the Museum of European Cultures (MEK) in Berlin, the majority are women of all generations, from mothers with teenage daughters to older women . Some men are also part of the group, often accompanied by a female companion. Surprisingly, the guide is also a man.
At first glance, having a man lead a tour about menstruation seems a little strange, but cultural anthropologist Stefan Lischewski approaches the topic so matter-of-factly that any feeling of embarrassment quickly vanishes.
Underwear and menstrual products
The exhibit features approximately 100 historic and modern healthcare products, as well as advertisements. Part One traces the history of women’s underwear and menstrual hygiene products, which were first developed commercially in the late 19th century.
At the time, sanitary pads were made of cloth. Due to cost and accessibility, do-it-yourself solutions remained popular well into the 20th century.
Before the invention of modern panties as we know them, women wore one-piece underwear or loose-fitting panties. They often had an opening to facilitate access to the bathroom using metal underwired crinolines or petticoats. At least six layers of cloth were needed to absorb menstrual fluid. The cloth pillows, weighing about two and a half kilos, were quite bulky.
The exhibition features a room with reproductions of these historic “special day underwear” that resemble large cotton diapers. Visitors are even invited to try them.
Women inventors
The pioneers of the industry were mostly men. But there have also been inventors, such as the American actress Leona Chalmers, who was the first to patent a commercial version of the menstrual cup in 1937. Her model, like many other brands throughout the century, did not achieve commercial success. These collectors gained new popularity only at the beginning of the current century.
In 1954, Mary Kenner patented a sanitary belt, but the company that intended to market her invention backed out after discovering that she was African-American. Before the development of adhesive pads, this type of belt was used to keep pads in place between the legs.
Cork
The first tampon, brand Tampax, was invented and patented by Dr. Earle Haas in 1931. However, he was unable to convince any company to market the product. In 1933 he sold the patent to Denver entrepreneur Gertrude Tendrich, who founded a company with the same name as the product and began selling the tampon.
An applicator-free version was developed and launched in Germany in 1950 by Germans Carl Hahn and Heinz Mittag. It was called OB – short for “ohne Binde” (no towel, in German). Gynecologist Judith Esser helped improve the product. You also revolutionized sex education in Germany and introduced it into schools.
Overcoming taboos through sex education
The exhibition was developed to serve school groups through educational visits: “Not all teachers in Germany have the knowledge and materials to teach sex education correctly,” says Lischewski. But he adds that in addition to student groups “many more people come”: we have almost 200 visitors a day “-a figure higher than the MEK’s normal average.
That’s why one section of the exhibition contains basic information on everything related to the menstrual cycle. For example, Lischewski points out that men and boys often think that women bleed gallons during menstruation. The actual amount is between 5 and 12 tablespoons.
Still taboo?
Is the topic still taboo in Germany? For cultural scientist Jana Wittenzellner, chief curator of the exhibition, there is no clear answer: “Menstruation has been part of an ongoing public discussion for a decade. For some it is still a taboo. For others, no longer. And for some others it’s still a taboo. it wasn’t a taboo even 30 years ago.”
According to Wittenzellner, there seems to be a lot of interest among the elderly, who say they are happy to finally be able to share their experiences through the exhibition.
Reactions on social media were “mostly enthusiastic on Instagram, but on Facebook there were complaints about the ‘disgusting theme,'” Wittenzellner says.
Willingness to discuss menstruation often depends on the individual’s social circle. “In my family it was more of a taboo,” says Ly Nguyen, a 30-year-old Berliner of Vietnamese origin taking the guided tour.
“In Vietnam we don’t talk about these private things. All the education I needed came from my friends. But when I had my first period, my mother told me not to use tampons, so as not to lose my virginity — although not exactly with these words.”
The “hymen myth” is a widespread and incorrect cultural concept. In fact, there is no vaginal membrane that breaks with penetration. And using a tampon has nothing to do with virginity.
Another tour participant, Rukhsana Dill Riaz from Wiesbaden, has lived in Germany for 26 years. According to her, there is no taboo in Germany, unlike in her home country, Bangladesh. “People there are very superstitious. Menstruating women are considered ‘not pure’, they can’t even go to the cemetery.”
Public discourse on menstruation
Through nearly 200 everyday objects, photos, graphics, newspaper articles and social media posts, the third section of the exhibition addresses how the discourse on menstruation has evolved in the West.
Over the past 10 years the topic has increasingly penetrated the public space, particularly through social media posts using hashtags such as #periodpositivity and #menstruationmatters.
IST has also generated debate and policy change. In early 2024, Spain adopted a menstrual leave law, allowing you to take time off work when symptoms are too painful. On the other hand, some critics say the measure could perpetuate sexist attitudes and contribute to menstrual stigma.
The exhibition also addresses the public shaming of menstruation with a striking portrait of Donald Trump made with menstrual blood. Sarah Levy created it in response to Trump’s comment against Fox News host Megyn Kelly: “There was blood everywhere,” the former US president commented after getting him in trouble during a televised presidential debate in 2015.
Menstrual poverty
While there is growing awareness of period poverty in developing countries, the phenomenon also affects women in wealthier parts of the world.
In an online survey in Germany, for which Plan International and Wash United interviewed a thousand women in 2021, 23% of participants said that monthly expenses for menstruation represent a financial burden.
Monthly expenses for menstrual health are estimated between 5 and 35 euros (R$26.70 to R$187), including painkillers and contraceptives. The sum is multiplied by 450, the average number of cycles during a woman’s life.
Pop culture and art
At the end of the tour, the group is invited to spend time independently in the fourth section of the exhibition, which features digital art images, as well as scenes from films and series. Like the 2016 comedy drama 20th Century Women in which Greta Gerwig’s character causes embarrassment during a family dinner by openly talking about menstruation.
“Art and culture have a great impact and play a very important role in the discussion about menstruation. They also make it interesting and fun,” comments Wittenzellner. “And we wanted the exhibit to be funny. If people are embarrassed, laughing is the best way around it.”
Source: Terra
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