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In the early 20th Century, makers of sanitary towels had to find a way to sell an item that some people found too embarrassing to mention. In some parts of the world, that stigma still hasn't gone away. Tim Harford charts the controversial history of a quietly revolutionary product.

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10 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Jan 2020 04:50GMT

Image credit

Sanitary towels (Credit: Getty Images)

Sources

Sharra Vostral Under Wraps Plymouth: Lexington Books 2011 Ch 4

Sharra Vostral Under Wraps Ch 1

Thomas Heinrich and Bob Batchelor Kotex, Kleenex, Huggies: Kimberly-Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business Columbus: Ohio State University Press 2004 p96

Janice Delaney, Mary Jane Lupton, Emily Toth The Curse: A Cultural History of Menstruation New York: New American Library 1976

Sharra Vostral Under Wraps Ch 3

Sharra Vostral Under Wraps Ch 4

Ashley Fetters 鈥淭he Tampon: A History鈥澨

Delaney et al. The Curse听听

. They cite a 2015 Euromonitor report.

Andrew Adam Newman 鈥淩ebelling Against The Commonly Evasive Feminine Care Ad鈥 The New York Times 16 March 2010

Vibeke Venema 鈥淭he Indian sanitary pad revolutionary鈥 主播大秀 Magazine 4 March 2014听

Thomas Friedman 鈥淐ellphones, Maxi-Pads and Other Life-Changing Tools鈥 The New York Times 6 April 2007

Broadcasts

  • Sat 25 Jan 2020 05:50GMT
  • Sat 25 Jan 2020 14:50GMT
  • Sun 26 Jan 2020 14:50GMT
  • Sun 26 Jan 2020 15:50GMT
  • Sun 26 Jan 2020 22:50GMT
  • Mon 27 Jan 2020 04:50GMT

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