Advertisers are showing womanhood in all its bloody, hairy glory

[Demovictory9]

In new advertisements for women’s products, companies are increasingly depicting women with more accurate detail.

We all bleed red, even from the vagina. But for the longest time, advertisers of tampons and sanitary pads have shown the ability of their products to absorb menstrual blood using unspecified blue liquids.

So, when a Kotex ad for Ultra-Thin Pads on Instagram showed red simulated blood being poured on both their pad and a competitor's — it was revolutionary.

Users commented their excitement and gratitude over an ad accurately portraying menstrual bleeding and destigmatizing the monthly cycle experienced by about half the female population in the world. Globally, menstruation can be highly stigmatized, leading to poor menstrual hygiene that can cause long-term health issues.

In a response to a user's comment, Kotex said, “We believe in challenging the negative perceptions of periods and being real with how our products work is part of that.”

The trend of more accurately portraying women’s bodies and their bodily processes is new for companies that sell women’s products. Ads for razors often show women running a blade over already shaved legs. Recently, Billie, a shaving company for women, started Project Body Hair, and began airing ads online showing body hair on women to market their products.

“Everyone has short stubble, long strands, or something in between. What you do with yours is up to you - grow it, get rid of it, or comb it. It's your hair, after all,” the company says on their website.

The company has even started an image library and encourages people to upload photos of body hair online. Research shows that less millennial women are shaving their legs and even fewer are shaving their underarms.

https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/479821-advertisers-are-showing-womanhood-in-all-its-bloody

[lunatica]

1. I like that ad

It’s time has come.

[flying_wahini]

2. I can say this cuz I'm kind of an old lady..(65 this week)

LOVE IT! About damn time women stopped trying to be somebody’s idea of perfection.
I am a big believer in lip gloss and mascara but really loving the rise of being authentic.

Be who you are, warts (or hairy legs) and all.

[Demovictory9]

3. Happy bday

[JoeOtterbein]

4. Wow! Love it!

I mean, ya know, hair!

[bobbieinok]

5. Until early 20thcentury only prostitutes shaved legs etc

Palestinian male told me that is still true in much of ME

[TexasProgresive]

7. The practice of sex workers removing leg and pubic hair may have to do with hygiene.

It also eliminates them acquiring body and pubic lice which must have hair to stay on the body.

[LisaL]

11. But it removes some protection against STDs.

[bobbieinok]

6. In90s in Venice was stunned to see cleaning women with super long underarm hair

[myohmy2]

8. I don't know...

...pit hair, unibrows and RED BLOOD?

...oh my, what might some say?

...I think it'll be all right once all the republican BLUE bloods start seeing the GREEN...


...but I like hair, I have a beautiful beard...

...so beautiful, it'll make you jealous...

[milestogo]

9. they should stop having women wearing white in tampon ads

as if it takes a great product or a lot of courage to wear white during your period

[GoCubsGo]

10. Actually, FEWER millenial women are shaving their legs.

(Sorry. The misuse of less/fewer is my biggest peeve next to apostrophe abuse.)

Good for them! This kind of thing is refreshing, especially after turning on the TV and seeing commercials for air brushes for applying make-up, and "crepe erase", and other such crap. I always thought the use of blue liquid to represent blood was kind of hilarious, too. They must think we're all hermit crabs?