In honour of International Women’s Day, let's look back at the contributions of women innovators who reshaped the landscape of period care! From Mary Kenner's breakthrough sanitary belt, Gertrude Tendrich's commercialization of the tampon design, and Leona Chalmers' pioneering work on menstrual cups, these trailblazers have left an indelible mark on all lives with periods.
In the 1920s Mary Kenner invented the sanitary belt, which allowed greater adjustment and security to cumbersome and often leaky menstrual pads. Despite facing challenges such as racism and lack of funds, she finally patented her sanitary belt design in 1956.
Her invention offered people greater freedom of movement and comfort while on their period. She was an amazing woman and inventor, and invented much more than just the sanitary belt. She’s someone who’s name should be known! One inspiring quote of hers:
“Every person is born with a creative mind, everyone has that ability.”
In the mid-late 1930s, Gertrude Tendrich, one who could call the mother of the modern tampon, revolutionized period care with the commercialization of the Tampax tampon invented by Earle Haas. She bought the patent from him with the help of several investors for a whopping $32,000! She soon was sewing tampons at home by hand and out pounding the pavement, trying to get drugstores to buy tampons.
While tampons generally don’t have the best track-record regarding health, you can’t deny that they revolutionize what people can do, and how people can move while on their periods!
In 1937, Leona Chalmers introduced the world to the first menstrual cup, commercially available as the Tassette rubber menstrual cup, offering a reusable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional period products. Interestingly enough, Tassette shut down in 1973 due to the embarrassment users experienced directly inserting cups in their vagina. Thanks to periods being less taboo nowadays, this isn’t as much of a problem. With Chalmer’s invention, people being more comfortable around their periods, and innovations in softer body-safe silicone, the menstrual cup market has exploded.
As we celebrate their legacy this International Women’s Day, let's continue championing innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in period care. Thanks to these remarkable women’s passion for improving period care, all that menstruate have access to safe, effective, and dignified menstrual products.
At Revol Cares, we're proud to stand on the shoulders of these trailblazers, developing our modern solution: period underwear that are inclusive of all sizes, flows, and genders. Join us in celebrating these unsung heroes and so many more women, including our founder and CEO, Sara Jonsdottir, who are shaping a more period-positive future for all.
More interesting reads:
https://goauntflow.com/blog/international-womens-day-meet-these-4-period-equity-activists/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/02/menstruation-feminist-activists
https://www.thecut.com/2015/09/great-moments-in-menstrual-history.html
