The Destigmatization of Menstruation
Some may find it shocking that I chose this topic to write my case study on because of the stigmatized implications it comes with. On the other hand, that is probably the best reason to write about the topic of menstruation in regard to the influencer Nadya Okamoto. Nadya is a cofounder of a menstrual product company called August, that works toward the destigmatization menstruation while also keeping their product eco-friendly and more effective than other brands of menstrual products. The company creates relatable advertisements that easily catch the attention of the viewer. Their products are made with no plastic and dissolve when put into hot water. Nadya constantly posts content about how women should be empowered and not uncomfortable about the things that happen to their bodies naturally. Nadya creates an open environment where women and girls who experience periods can feel empowered in their bodies. This form of femvertising helps women feel more comfortable about the experiences they have during their periods. It also inspires women to start their own companies with the confidence that she has in her own company.
While doing some background research on this topic, I found an article called The Menstrual Mark which goes into more detail about the stigmatization of periods throughout time. One thing that stuck out was that menstruation made men uncomfortable and it shocked them that someone could bleed for 5 days without being injured or sick. This information makes me think that the only reason there is stigma around this natural process is because men couldn’t understand it. This gives valuable insight as to why we need people like Nadya using their platforms to educate people on these topics. There are also many articles that state that there is a stigma in religions about menstruation, these next two articles Putting men into Menstruation and Menstruation, Religion and Society both talk about how in religions women are thought to be “unclean” while they are on their periods. These implications being rooted in religion further implant the idea that menstruation is bad, when in reality it’s not good if someone with a uterus doesn’t get their period. It’s also important for people to educate men and boys on this topic so that they can be aware and understand what is happening to the women in their lives. The article Putting Men into Menstruation states that many boys don’t get educated on these topics in their homes or in school and if they try to talk about it with their friends they will think it’s weird. It’s important for men and boys to understand what happens with women during their period so they can not only just be educated but also support women and help to make products that are needed more accessible for them. Also, I’m sure there are many men and boys that are curious about this topic and just want to know more about it. The education of other people on this topic would be so beneficial for everyone in the world because it would help to break down these barriers that separate the world into different sections.
Nadya Is a great example of a good communicator, she keeps an open conversation about periods and answers questions about them for anyone who wants to know. She creates a space on her page that is warm and open for questions and very educational for many people to see. She doesn’t waste time when talking about this topic. She gets right into the main points of the topic, which saves everyone else time and makes it easier for people to learn new things. One thing that separates her from other influencers is she uses her own period blood as a form of sponsored content for her business. Not only does showing her blood create an atmosphere where people feel more open about their experiences but also exposes other more closed minded people to the fact that it really isn’t a harmful thing. She is constantly challenging the norms behind the secrecy of periods. I’m sure women all over the world have done the little trick when they slide their tampon up their sleeve so they don’t feel uncomfortable and so they don’t make other people uncomfortable. Nadya essentially attacks that expectation by showing off her used period products to create an open conversation around this topic. This form of advertising is so new and different that it is an essential shock value that gets people hooked onto her products too quickly. The “oh wow” factor of this advertising method is what peaks peoples interest into learning more about the product and what the company is doing for the world as well as their interest in her. This can be seen as culture jamming based on the approach of advertising, directly criticizing the ideas behind periods being secret. Nadya is directly challenging the societal expectation that this is something to be kept private even when there are billions of people, literally, that experience this for a substantial amount of their lives.
Nadya is not only open about her menstruation but is also open about many other aspects in her life. She shares a lot about her journey in therapy and healing through trauma that she has experienced. She is seen as a role model not only for women and girls but men and boys as well. She never puts down anyone for having questions about what she puts out on the internet but at the same time she addresses the ignorant comments that people put out there. At the same time she is challenging the stigmatized ideas behind periods and menstruation she is also challenging the stigmatized ideas about mental health and how people should keep that to themselves.
Johnston-Robledo, I., & Chrisler, J. C. (2011, July 31). The menstrual mark: Menstruation as social stigma — sex roles. SpringerLink. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-011-0052-z
Mahon, T. (2015). Putting Men into Menstruation: the role of men and boys in the community of menstrual hygiene . JSTOR. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/24688187?seq=8
Bhartiya, A. (2013, November 6). Menstruation, Religion, and Society. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://da7648.approby.com/m/6cb2e49e62d90ea7.pdf
