Flow Your Own Way? Depends Where You Live
by Anna Meyer
From pads and tampons to menstrual cups, there are an extensive number of feminine products to choose from in the U.S. This vast availability partially has to do with how open our culture is to talking about and educating women on their periods, at least compared to where many other countries currently stand. Commercials for Always and Playtex air on television, yet realistic, even artful exploration of what periods actually look or feel like are censored. It’s ironic how the industry advertises a solution for something many are not even willing to look at, at least in the mainstream (side note: check out this niche #periodzine campaign on Indiegogo right now).
There seems to be something for everyone, but that accessibility changes depending on where you live. The Period Store is a monthly subscription service that was started by two women who wanted to make preparing for your period a more pleasant experience. The online store offers a reinvented way to receive your desired products each month. Additionally, the company maintains a blog (“The Periodical”) that features a series of “Periods Around the World” posts, wherein bloggers discuss how women experience their periods in cities outside the U.S. and interview women to gain further insight. The posts have become an inside look at a topic that is relatively kept on the down-low, and they’re a fascinating read for anyone who has experienced their own personal shark week.
“Periods Around the World” inspired me to dig a little deeper into this variant cultural phenomenon. In addition to examples from “The Periodical,” I’ve rounded up some of the most current and interesting takeaways on period self-care around the world.
To check it out, head on over to The Riveter Magazine.
