Do "feminine hygiene" products perpetuate shame?

11/29/2012

At the last Fannying Around we stumbled on to the subject of so-called Feminine Hygiene products - panty liners, deodorants and wipes. We got into a very heated discussion about whether we actually need such things.

We talked aout how, during periods, hot flushes and summer months these can be quite handy. But then we moved on to the point that overuse is bad for our bodies, mind and purses. Rather than being healthy I suggested rgar these products are promoting feelings of shame over natural functions.

We then moved on to musing over whether different women have differing levels pf discharge or if we do smell differently. It saddens me to hear accounts where women have been told they smell or are "too wet" by partners. I imagine there is no barometer for what is a "normal" amount and who is to say if a smell is bad? Are some people, at times, or even all the time, a bit whiffy or are users simply turned off by the natural smell of their own fanny? Indeed we are usually more aware of our bodily functions than others.

We discussed how some soaps, especially scented ones, are bad for our private areas so using a specially designed product during the morning wash might not be a bad idea. But it was pointed out that the vagina is a magical self-cleaning place so using one every time you go to the loo may be too much. Further, prolonged bad smells might be a sign of infection or due to an alteration in your fannies' ph levels. Rather than continually masking it with a deodorant, why not visit a doctor? They can either help solve the problem if there is something amiss or reassure you if all is fine.

In the end we all cheersed are natural smells with wine and cranberry juice and giggled. It had felt liberating to have such a discussion and I could tell this is a subject that will be revisited. There are many questions here that I would like to try and answer and I am now carrying out an investigation which will involve speaking to users and non-users of these products, doctors, gynaes and therapists as well as the companies who peddle them.

If you would like to comment about any of these issues, feel free to message me here or email me at sarah@fanniesrule.com. I will be writing a blogs and features about this so if you would prefer your experience to be private that is fine, just let me know. All names will be withheld unless otherwise stated. I am looking for both positive and negative comments about these products as I really would like to present a rounded picture.

Fannying Around is monthly discussion where we celebrate, bemoan and muse over all aspects of the fanny. If you have a fanny and would like to come along, please visit the Fannying Around page. If you have any questions or comments, contact me here or email sarah@fanniesrule.com

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Do "feminine hygiene" products perpetuate shame?

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Sarah Berry

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