See also Ads for Teens
Booklets menstrual hygiene
companies made for girls, women and teachers - patent
medicine - a list of books and articles about
menstruation
 
|
"Why was I born a Woman?"
Ad for Kotex menstrual pads, September 1941, in
Woman's Home Companion magazine, U.S.A.
sanitary napkin, tampon,
pad, belts, menstruation,
women's health, ads for teenagers, menstrual period,
cycle, panties, Preppy
Study the enlargements below.
Now, tell me what the guy's name is!
What year of school - freshman, etc. - in college or high school is he in?
And why is he wearing eyeliner?
I thank the generous donor, who has contributed many items since
the start of MUM, in 1994!
|
 The circles refer
to comments below.
|
Below: The red circle
above envelops the girl below. Study the picture for
the boy's name. My answer at right.
|
 |
She's playing solitaire.
Her lips are pressed against J - she's practically eati-, um, him,
er, the card - and her lip shape reflects the shape
of the heart! And we know that hearts and lips are red - as is MENSTRUATION!
[Sorry to mention that.]
J of course stands for Jack
(John), the boy's name. At least that's
my take on it. And I made her the queen.
The Queen loves Jack.
Do the rest of the cards mean anything?
Another name for solitaire is Patience, which Kotex doesn't advise.
The size of the cards in the original ad
is very small and I doubt readers would have
picked up on the joke - if it is one. The artist might have just been chuckling
to himself.
|
|
Below: Is the boy a freshman
or what?
Let's assume "42" means his class, the year he'll graduate.
This ad appeared in September of 1941. He would graduate
the following year, 1942. That made him a senior!
Last question: Why is he wearing eyeliner?
Dunno!
I've known men who have lots of dark eyelashes on the lower lid;
maybe that's the case here.
In 1941 I doubt eyeliner was the choice of preppy boys and
gays were well closeted. Either illustrator Nurick had something
for him or just wanted to emphasize the eyes.
She's looking at his ice cream cone, not
meeting his gaze.
Maybe she too is bothered by his eyeliner. But it seems to me she's
finishing her ice cream faster than he's eating his. She looks as if
she could stand an extra pound so maybe she
just wants his ice cream.
|
 |
Note the incredible irony of BLUE, as in
"the blues," being Kotex's official color.
The official color of the leading pad maker reflected the feelings of many
women
before and during their periods.
Were they awake when they picked it?
|
© 2010 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
of the work on this Web site in any manner or medium
without written permission of the author. Please report suspected violations
to hfinley@mum.org
|