First Page
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read the first and third
A Note from Germany - read the German version of
this note - see an American Midol pain ad from 1938
A Note from Germany 2 (1997)
Petra Habiger
I came across this ad while leafing through an
German women's magazine from 1971
and I think it is typical
for that time when topics like menstruation
(although it was right after the sexual revolution) were strictly
taboo.
Translation
Many husbands suffer from
menstrual
pain.
Because their wives do. And because their
wives'
nervousness and edginess adversely affect their partners and
family.
Fortunately most men try to be
especially considerate
during this time, but, nevertheless, pain cannot be eliminated
by caress
and understanding. And especially not by simple headache
tablets.
The reason for practical menstrual
discomfort
are cramps. Cramps in the abdomen originate in a strong
contraction of the
uterus when ejecting the mucous membrane.
There is only one remedy that
eliminates cramps
as well as attendant symptoms like headache, pain in the
abdomen and back
at the same time. That's Agevis.
This special pill contains a patented
antispasmodic
substance, combined with a pain-killing and bracing active
substance.
The pills can be taken easily and
inconspicuously.
They don't make you sleepy, are stomached well and most
important: they
help quickly and completely. And help not only women who had
to suffer from
menstrual pain heretofore, but also their plagued husbands.
Agevis is available in 16 and 8 pill
packs
at your drugstore.
Whereas nowadays an ad for menstrual
pain-killers
would aim at just helping women get rid of their pain and feel as
comfortable
as on all other days, this one deals with menstrual pain as if it
was a
sickness, not to say a disease.
Menstruation
is subliminally treated as something evil, not only affecting a
woman's
life itself but even jeopardizing her
partnership.
But fortunately most men strive to be
especially
considerate during this time. Thank God!
The ad implies that menstrual pain has an organic
origin only. And because of this, of course, only
a drug can help. You see this in the sentence ". . .
women,
who had to suffer from menstrual pain heretofore." That implies
that
pain vanishes right after taking the tablets.
The fact that especially a woman's
unwitting inward
disapproving attitude against her own menstruation can also be
an important
reason for such pain is completely concealed. This a
reflection of
the menstrual taboo. But pain is something that cannot only be
solved by
taking pills.
Another indication of the taboo nature of menstruation is the
fact that
the tablets are so small that they can
be "taken . . . inconspicuously." It's just the same with
menstrual hygiene itself: Nobody should be
aware of
when a woman is menstruating.
Menstruation is a disadvantage, something
people
don't talk about and women have to be ashamed of, disowning
their own body.
Although times have changed, menstruation is still a subject
that is
to be avoided.
But menstruation is something necessary, something that
distinguishes
women from men and makes women something unique because they can
give birth
to a child.
Well, taking tablets is by far not the only way to eliminate
menstrual
pain. There are many more!
Please tell me your own experience with
other
methods!
And if you
have any
questions on alternative pain-killers or menstrual hygiene and
menstruation
in general, I am at your service to answer your email.
Petra also sent this cartoon from a German publication:
The translation goes:
first panel: (Doctor) How
long has
she been acting like that? (Mother) Since this
morning. (Daughter, in bed) So
free . . .
second panel: (Daughter) I
feel so
free . . . so carefree . . . so safe . . . I can do anything!
Simply anything!
Everything! So free . . .
third panel: (Mother) You
can tell
me, Doc: She's taking drugs! (Doctor) No, no.
(Daughter) So safe. (Doctor) She
using the new Always Ultra!
Petra Habiger introduces herself here.
First Page
| FAQs
read the first A
Note from Germany - see an American
Midol pain
ad from 1938
© 1997 Harry Finley. It is
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