See Pad-n-all, with belt from about the 1930s-40s,
U.S.A.
See a Modess True or False? ad in The American
Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley
in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates).
 
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Lakshmi Murthy: Teaching girls about puberty, menstruation and
how to make washable menstrual pads, in rural India
In 2001 Lakshmi Murthy wrote me about her work with rural girls in southern
Rajasthan, India, and asked if I would be interested in showing something
about it on the MUM site. Of course I was! Ms. Murthy is a graphic designer
in Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan (see the map, below) and has used
her talents to a good end, as you will see. She writes, "This particular
component, i.e., pad making and working with adolescents, is a part of a
larger area of my work: developing media for rural teenagers on issues related
to sexuality."
Read Ms. Murthy's detailed
explanation of her project (with mention of local menstrual customs
and beliefs).
More recent information about
menstrual management in India with an article critical
of this museum.
The MacArthur Foundation supports
some of her work with a Fund for Leadership Development Fellowship,
authorized in 2000 (Population and Reproductive Health program of the Global
Security and Sustainability program), "[f]or a media design project
to improve the communication of health information to young people in rural
areas (over two years)."
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The arrow points to Udaipur town, in Rajasthan, India, where
the project director, Lakshmi Murthy, has her design studio, Vikalpdesign.
Interestingly, another washable-pad project takes place in the bordering
state to the right, Uttar Pradesh (see that project).
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The cardboard-and-fabric doll demonstrates how to wear a
washable pad.
Click for larger image. The maker, Ms. Murthy,
sent the doll, explanatory material and photographs to this museum.
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©2002 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
of the work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written permission
of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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