See a roughly contemporary pad, Society,
and a "silent purchase" ad for Modess,
1928.
Other Modess ads: 1931,"Modess . . . . because" ads, the French
Modess, and the German "Freedom" (Kimberly-Clark)
for teens.
See a prototype of the first Kotex
ad.
 
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The perfect menstrual pad 4 (1 2
3 4a 5):
Conclusions and recommendations
"Report of Gilbreth, Inc.," to
Johnson & Johnson Company, 1 January 1927, about
how to improve the company's menstrual products, especially with regard
to competition with Kotex pads
Dr. Gilbreth's report changed the way companies made and marketed pads.
Although I have just hinted at her findings, I will quote her conclusions
and mostly summarize her recommendations. I did not report on the second part of her paper dealing with contributing
to the "health problem," but some
of her comments refer to that.
Dr. Gilbreth's Recommendations for Napkins
(menstrual pads) [partly my summary, partly quotes]
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Above: The improved Modess pad (from
the MUM collection), probably from the 1930s, mostly conforming to
Gilbreth's recommendations.
Note the rounded corners of the filler
and the different lengths of the tabs. But
the tabs do not taper, as recommended, and the filler is the same thickness
throughout rather than being thicker in the center.
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Tabs
(see the almost-perfect 1930s Modess, at right [in
more detail, here]:
tabs are gauze, the long, flat ends of pads that had no filler and attached
to a holding device, like a belt)
1. The front tab should be shorter than the back. (See
why.)
2. The tabs should be shorter than they are now in Modess.
But tabs can't be made to fit every woman because some women wear belts
at their waists, some at their hips.
Because the quality of gauze in sanitary napkins is not good enough
to use with safety pins or grips, the wearer must fold it and this requires
extra length.
3. Tapered tabs would be good if the quality of gauze improves; women
achieve this now by folding.
Filler
(the thick part in the center of the pad that absorbs the menstrual discharge)
1. The center of the filler should be thicker than any other part.
2. The thickness should be graduated toward the ends.
3. If the corners are cut off or rounded, the present length of the
Modess filler is all right, but it would be more satisfactory to many if
it were 0.5 inch shorter (ca. 1.25 cm)
4. If the corners are left square, the filler could be one inch shorter
(2.54 cm)
5. The sides of the filler should be rounded
6. The lower fold of should reach completely over to the edge of the
filler, and the upper fold should go completely over the filler so that
even with the outer edge folded in, the filler is completely covered twice.
By covering twice, we mean that only the back of the filler should have
two layers of gauze.
7. The raw edge of the gauze should be folded in so that there will
be no danger of loose threads raveling out.
8. The gauze should be softer in quality than that in the present Modess
napkin. Flimsy gauze over a fiber filler is especially harsh.
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General Conclusions of the Report [directly
quoted from the report]
1. A general health campaign on the subject of menstruation is advisable.
2. This should address the fact that the normal woman can safely pursue
her usual program and profit by so doing.
3. The woman who is not normal in any respect should have expert advice.
This in most cases takes the form of special exercises, corrective work,
abdominal supports, etc. These may be combined with psychiatric treatment
of some sort to remove fears and worries.
4. Such a health campaign could best be conducted probably by some
institution which has already gained the confidence of the public and especially
of the women and which is not suspected of a commercial bias.
5. No one type of sanitary napkin can possibly meet all needs. Where
price is no object, a cotton napkin is preferable to the product made of
fibre or paper. At least three sizes are indicated.
General Recommendations of the Report [mostly
my summary]
1. The health campaign should be carried out
2. Combine the results of this report with others that J & J may
have to find similarities and dissimilarities, and why
3. Study carefully the number of types of pads J & J needs to make
to meet all needs. Continue Nupak and continue Modess in its smaller form.
It's questionable that a large fiber [fill] napkin should be made to compete
with Kotex. College and young business women like the small Modess, but
older women may want to continue with a large Kotex-like pad, but cheaper.
4. Advertise anything, but not disposability. "Heads of dormitories"
and others would welcome a campaign stressing that in the present situation,
pads clog plumbing
5. Use people who are already established for future research
6. [Not readable in my notes.]
7. People who filled out questionnaires are more likely to want to
try out new pads
8. Don't make changes in the J & J laboratory before all reports
have been studied and compared
9. Make these changes in the Modess pad:
a. Rounded sides with cotton wrapping
b. Soft filler with soft gauze covering
c. Gauze of sufficient body to insure a feeling of safety
d. Gauze folded completely over the filler and its raw edge turned
under
10. Women demand that the pad be inconspicuous; this must be done!
Cut off the corners if it is not too expensive or difficult
11. Comfort is the first requirement, according to the questionnaires
The copy of the report that I read, which may be unique, rests in
the special collections of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A.
Dr. Gilbreth was the first woman engineering professor at Purdue.
© 2000 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce
or distribute work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written
permission of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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