Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site watmath.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!saquigley From: saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) Newsgroups: net.women.only Subject: feminine "protection" Message-ID: <10083@watmath.UUCP> Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 12:43:04 EST Article-I.D.: watmath.10083 Posted: Fri Nov 30 12:43:04 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Dec-84 05:59:41 EST Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 39 OK: pet peeve time. There is one marketing practise that has always been getting on my nerves, not only because it is stupid, but also because it has me stomped. I've tried feminist analysis of it, and I just can't really come up with a good answer. Question: who is "feminine protection" protecting? and what is it protecting her(/him?) against? (bears? why didn't they say so!) I've recently had a pack of "always, feminine protection system" shoved down my mailbox. (male readers: this is a bunch of sanitary napkins). Although I appreciate any extras freebies I can get (I ever asked some people to give me theirs if they weren't going to use them), the accompanying litterature stomps me: "with dry weave on the surface and superb absorbency beneath, you have protection on top of protection" and "pads are thicker in the middle where you need the most protection, thinner at the ends". In the french part of the litterature there is a less emphasis on protection: it is mentioned in "protection of your underwear". So, is that what we've been so worried about all this time? protecting our underwear? not only that, but protecting it against ourselves? it sure doesn't reflect well on the concerns of "modern woman" does it? It's funny, but the impression I have from the tone of the ads I hear on TV or see in magazines, is that we are the ones being protected. The only thing I can think of we are being protected against are our own icky bodies with their dripping fluids (after all, pantiliners are for the "in-between days whenonly need light protection"). Personally I am quite sick of these innuendoes of there being some danger lurking at every period, and in-between too and us needing some BIG pad to take care of us. Sounds very paternalistic to me. Am I the only paranoid on this issue? Sophie Quigley ...!{clyde,ihnp4,decvax}!watmath!saquigley maybe I should be one the pill, I'd have 'round the clock protection.