See also Australian
douche ad (ca. 1900) - Fresca douche powder (U.S.A.)
(date ?) - Kotique douche liquid ad, 1974 (U.S.A.)
- Liasan (1) genital wash ad, 1980s (Germany)
- Liasan (2) genital wash ad, 1980s (Germany)
- Lysol douche liquid ad, 1928 (U.S.A.) - Lysol douche liquid ad, 1948 (U.S.A.) - Marvel
douche liquid ad, 1928 (U.S.A.) - Midol menstrual
pain pill ad, 1938 (U.S.A.) - Midol booklet (selections),
1959 (U.S.A.) - Mum deodorant cream ad, 1926 (U.S.A.)
- Myzone menstrual pain pills ad, 1952 (Australia)
- Pristeen genital spray ad, 1969 (U.S.A.) -
Spalt pain tablets, 1936 (Germany) - Vionell genital spray ad, 1970, with Cheryl Tiegs (Germany)
- Zonite douche liquid ad, 1928 (U.S.A.)
The Perils of Vaginal Douching (essay by Luci
Capo Rome) - the odor page
 
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Kotex menstrual pad ad, U.S.A., March 1922
Four interesting points in the text characterize this beautiful - just
one man's opinion - ad.
1. Because they were cheap - at least to the fancy lady and her ilk in the
illustration - women could throw them away, unlike the washable pads most
women used in 1922 and before. The early Kotex was (were? The text also
uses Kotex in the plural.) expensive, about five cents a pad - today, that's
maybe 40 cents. See how Kotex tells you to toss
them away.
2. Women were probably embarrassed to talk with others about buying menstrual
pads. Kotex also instructed dealers to put boxes
on the counter and to allow women to put money in a box next to it.
Imagine doing that today! Women still are embarrassed
about menstruation - surprise!
3. Nothing on the box gave away what was inside - well, um, the word Kotex
eventually did, and it became synonymous with menstrual pads even through
today. And when the clerk wrapped the box, something common until recently,
the shape of the box, believe it or not, suggested to passersby what the
unfortunate lady was carrying. Dr. Lillian Gilbreth wrote
about this in 1927. Gee, I wonder what's in that box on the table.
4. And, finally, the main point, the illustration: you didn't have to wash
the dang things! Another early Kotex ad features
this. But some women choose to use washable pads today.
See some from the first decade of the 20th century
and an Italian pad from around 1890.
The ad also discusses the Kotex vending machine,
still anchored in many women's public toilets.
I enlarged the text, below the top picture.
See the illustration enlarged.
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See the illustration, enlarged.
© 2007 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute work
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