Jessica Wynn

Just say period.

It's a basic body function, not a shameful mystery.

It literally happens to every woman once a month.

Just say it.

Yeah, we are.

For most of human history, there were no pads or tampons.

People used whatever worked, right?

Moss, animal skins, papyrus.

In ancient times, they would wrap lint around sticks, which I can't even imagine.

That sounds awful.

And then cloth rags became the standard.

That's literally where the phrase on the rag comes from.

Yeah, definitely not comfortable.

And disposable pads didn't show up until the early 20th century, designed by men who didn't menstruate.

So these early versions, they had to be pinned in place or worn with belts.

Yes, not your skin, your clothes.

Adhesive pads didn't become common until decades later.

I know, and it's almost like women should be the ones making decisions about female issues.

It was just ignored because menstrual health research was and is underfunded.

And disposable products then became insanely profitable, which discouraged more innovation.