A large portion of the world’s population—roughly half—menstruates. A healthy person’s monthly flow lasts for about thirty years on average, and it’s a process that happens just as naturally as growing a beard. And yet, menstruation has often been stigmatised as unclean, embarrassing, and in some historical and geographic situations, even toxic, rather than a source of pride and a sign of approaching puberty that deserves to be celebrated. Since the subject has been taboo for so long, some people even contend that the word “taboo” is derived from the Polynesian word “tapua,” which means both “holy and prohibited” and “menstrual flow.”
Lint, sand, moss, and sea sponges were used by other ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Chinese, and Native Americans because of their natural capacity for absorption. Female hygiene items have changed over time, starting with discarded clothing or rags, menstrual belts, and then more modern manufactured items like cups, tampons with applicators, and highly absorbent pads (VOXAPOD® Editorial Team, 2022).
The Smithsonian museum of science and medicine’s display of personal care items gives information on the attitudes surrounding the subject as well as how these items once looked. The Smithsonian is home to 154 million objects over 19 separate museums, 21 libraries, 9 research institutes, and even a zoo, making it the largest museum in the world. The museum’s website makes it apparent that before to 1970, little, if any, significance was given to this part of human existence, and the collection of feminine hygiene goods is tiny. Since they weren’t deemed to be valuable, many artefacts weren’t saved. Another issue brought up is the term “feminine hygiene,” which helps society avoid referring to body parts by name and denotes the
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