In 2007, a woman named Wendi Aarons wrote a letter of complaint to James Thatcher, the Brand Manager at Procter and Gamble. Dawn O’Porter joined us at Letters Live at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2023 to read it.
I'm old enough to remember the days of REAL maxi pads, and how you had to buy a harness to wear under your panties to hold the things on. They were big, bulky and messy. There was only aspirin for cramps, and I spent years of simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea every month, waiting for things to settle down so I could go to work on my feet for 8 hours the same day. So happy to hit menopause, and have never been sad about the end of my fertile years. Yeah, happy memories.
As a man I've been contemplating suing the ad business for wasting my brain capacity telling me about female hygiene products. I have had my head filled with stuff about wings, moisture barriers and all sorts of similar things to no good use at all. Imagine what would happen if I tried to make use of that knowledge. My significant other in menstrual cramps yelling at me to go shopping for brand so and so because she's out and me trying to tell her that some other brand is actually better because tests show a higher absorption rate. Maybe I could use that other brands improved absorption rate while I take my new head wound to the emergency room? I don't have any use for female hygiene products myself and I know better than to discuss anything with a woman with menstrual cramps, so someone owes me for filling my brain with knowledge I have no possible use for ever.
I was talking about all the beechin and complaining people do these days to someone, I told my mother about the conversation, And how I had told the person, They have it easy compared to the older days Of our parents generation, I told them when my mother was a young girl and had her menstrual cycle she had to use a dam gunny sack shoved down her pants. My mom started laughing hysterically, The only words she could get out is it wasn't that d*** bad. I know my mom grew up on a farm in the middle of the woods and went to town once every couple of weeks, So I asked her what did you use then back in those days, She said you just shoved some rags down in your britches. I said well if you're shoving old shop rags down your pants what's so funny about a gunny sack? Then I told her at least you're not Amish I think they just make their women ride a sheep for a week
Slightly off topic but I've noticed a couple of ads recently where they use red dye/ animation to depict the blood in the pads. The women in the ads are still being free spirits, skating, running, dancing, jolly full lives but a small step in a more accurate direction.
That letter has inspired me to imagine what slogans they could put on the pads instead of "Have a happy period". They could frankly use it as a marketing ploy if they were funny, have a different one on each, so the woman gets a giggle (or at least an involuntary harumph) when she opens one. "Laxatives are for medical purposes, not revenge" "If done correctly, a snarl can be mistaken for a smile" "Crowbars are for opening crates, not men"
Still, the winged pad changed everyone’s life for the better. What a revelation! We live in the best times. Think about being a scullery maid in 1700. Using cloths, CLOTHS, people, and NO sick days even when you felt like death, heavy flow, cramps.
Here! Here! That slogan has ALWAYS irritated me. And they've been using it for like 20 years!
Whenever that commercial came on and I heard the slogan to “have a happy…” I’d yell at the tv to go eff itself.
I love this letter!
Especially for the Haemorrhage periods 😢 . Over night Tena or poise pads
"Are you f*cking kidding me…"
Every woman in the hall applauding and most rightfully so.
I have never liked Always pads, I've used Stay free ultra thin overnights with wings for at least 20 years, but I think over 25.
This just reinforces my feelings that though Always products have way more shelf real estate in stores, they are far from the superior product.
Well said Wendy.
Hear, hear!
Happy International Woman Day!
HEAR HEAR😁
I'm old enough to remember the days of REAL maxi pads, and how you had to buy a harness to wear under your panties to hold the things on. They were big, bulky and messy. There was only aspirin for cramps, and I spent years of simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea every month, waiting for things to settle down so I could go to work on my feet for 8 hours the same day. So happy to hit menopause, and have never been sad about the end of my fertile years. Yeah, happy memories.
Is she implying men can't have periods? Tsk tsk.
Mr Thatchers answer……. Well well ,me dear. then you can't imagine what's it like for a Transgender……… " taarrra boom Tiisscchh"
I guess somebody must have leaked this letter…
As a man I've been contemplating suing the ad business for wasting my brain capacity telling me about female hygiene products. I have had my head filled with stuff about wings, moisture barriers and all sorts of similar things to no good use at all. Imagine what would happen if I tried to make use of that knowledge. My significant other in menstrual cramps yelling at me to go shopping for brand so and so because she's out and me trying to tell her that some other brand is actually better because tests show a higher absorption rate. Maybe I could use that other brands improved absorption rate while I take my new head wound to the emergency room? I don't have any use for female hygiene products myself and I know better than to discuss anything with a woman with menstrual cramps, so someone owes me for filling my brain with knowledge I have no possible use for ever.
Seriously. And also- maxi pads aren’t just used for period. Ever hear of a miscarriage??? “Happy period??” To the woman suffering a miscarriage?!!!
I appreciate that the ad for this was Thinx period underwear.
Pull you head out man-😂😂😂
He must have had a period. Because the marketing lingo is extremely dickless
I was talking about all the beechin and complaining people do these days to someone, I told my mother about the conversation, And how I had told the person, They have it easy compared to the older days Of our parents generation, I told them when my mother was a young girl and had her menstrual cycle she had to use a dam gunny sack shoved down her pants. My mom started laughing hysterically, The only words she could get out is it wasn't that d*** bad. I know my mom grew up on a farm in the middle of the woods and went to town once every couple of weeks, So I asked her what did you use then back in those days, She said you just shoved some rags down in your britches. I said well if you're shoving old shop rags down your pants what's so funny about a gunny sack? Then I told her at least you're not Amish I think they just make their women ride a sheep for a week
"Put down the hammer" 🤣🤣
Slightly off topic but I've noticed a couple of ads recently where they use red dye/ animation to depict the blood in the pads.
The women in the ads are still being free spirits, skating, running, dancing, jolly full lives but a small step in a more accurate direction.
I literally clapped at the end.
Yeah, my definition of PMS was Permissible Man Slaughter
I love you, Wendi Aarons!
I've learned to not make any sudden moves, and when to keep my head down.😁
Wonderful
That letter has inspired me to imagine what slogans they could put on the pads instead of "Have a happy period". They could frankly use it as a marketing ploy if they were funny, have a different one on each, so the woman gets a giggle (or at least an involuntary harumph) when she opens one.
"Laxatives are for medical purposes, not revenge"
"If done correctly, a snarl can be mistaken for a smile"
"Crowbars are for opening crates, not men"
I hate periods myself, I'll only ever use comma's,
So, as a 63 year old male I share your suffering,
Ladies, Ladies ,,,,, PUT the WEAPONS DOWwnn!
I don't think I heard of Dawn O' Porter, but she was terrific,
Also just so you know when you are no longer having your period you can still have the cramps, really really bad cramps ….for years!
Still, the winged pad changed everyone’s life for the better. What a revelation! We live in the best times. Think about being a scullery maid in 1700. Using cloths, CLOTHS, people, and NO sick days even when you felt like death, heavy flow, cramps.