Men in Menstrual Product Advertising–1920–1949

ABSTRACT

Menstruation and menstrual products are commonly thought to be solely the concerns of women, yet the values that shape attitudes and representations of the period are strongly influenced by men. Magazine advertising for menstrual products reveals both subtle and overt examples of male presence in the formation of perspectives on the period. This article examines a variety of menstrual product ads from two decades in order to assess how the presence of men shapes these perspectives.

KEYWORDS:

• Menstruation
• advertising
• gender