''The Story of Menstruation'' is a 1946
10-minute American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
animated film
Animation is a method by which image, still figures are manipulated to appear as Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent cel, celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited ...
produced by
Walt Disney Productions
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
.
It was commissioned by the International Cello-Cotton Company (now
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American multinational personal care corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. The company manufactures sanitary paper products and surgical & medical instruments. Kimberly-Clark brand n ...
)
and was shown in a non-theatrical release to approximately 105 million American students in health education classes.
In 2015, it was selected for preservation in the
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation, each selected for its historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions since the NFPB’s inception i ...
.
History
It was part of a 1945 to 1951 series of films that Disney produced for American schools.
Gynecologist Mason Hohn was hired as a consultant to ensure that the film was scientifically accurate.
Hohn was hired to increase the likelihood that school doctors and nurses would allow the film to be shown.
Hohn's involvement led to a stronger emphasis on biology than other marketing by ICCC.
''The Story of Menstruation'' increased its reputation when it received the
Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval
''Good Housekeeping'' is an American women's magazine featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, and health, as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good House ...
.
It was one of the first commercially sponsored films to be distributed to high schools.
It was distributed with a booklet for teachers and students called ''Very Personally Yours'' that featured advertising of the
Kotex
Kotex is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products, which includes the Kotex maxi, thin and ultra thin pads, the Security tampons, and the Lightdays pantiliners. Most recently, the company has added U by Kotex to its line of menstrual hy ...
brand of products, and discouraged the use of
tampon
A tampon is a feminine hygiene, menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a Sanitary napkin, pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inser ...
s, where the market was dominated by the
Tampax
Tampax (a portmanteau of tampon and pack) is a brand of tampon currently owned by Procter & Gamble. It was based in White Plains, New York, US until its sale to Procter & Gamble in 1997. It is a subsidiary of P&G's Always brand and is sold in ov ...
brand of tampons from Tampax Inc.
In 2015, the United States
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
selected the film for preservation in the
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation, each selected for its historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions since the NFPB’s inception i ...
, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Plot
The film uses animated diagrams to detail the
menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs a ...
.
The film's narrator, who is not identified in the credits, informs the viewer that "there is nothing strange or mysterious about menstruation", and it shows women engaged in such activities as bathing, riding a horse, and dancing during their menstrual cycles. The film's narration by actress
Gloria Blondell
Gloria Blondell (August 16, 1915 – March 25, 1986) was a stage, film, and television actress who was the younger sister of actress Joan Blondell.
Family
She was born into a vaudeville family. Her parents and siblings, Edward Jr. and Joan, wer ...
also provides advice to avoid constipation and depression, and to always keep up a fine outward appearance.
[Film Threat review]
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''The Story of Menstruation'' is believed to be the first film to use the word "vagina
In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...
" in its screenplay. Neither sexuality nor reproduction is mentioned in the film, and an emphasis on sanitation makes it, as Disney historian Jim Korkis has suggested, "a hygienic crisis rather than a maturational event". The menstrual flow was depicted as snow white instead of blood red.
The film's copyright was renewed by Walt Disney Productions on December 3, 1973.[Renewal registration no. R564909, Dec. 3, 1973. recorded in ]
See also
* Culture and menstruation
There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the bel ...
References
External links
*
*
''The Story of Menstruation''
at D23's Disney A to Z
{{DEFAULTSORT:Story Of Menstruation, The
1946 animated films
1946 short films
1946 films
American animated short films
American social guidance and drug education films
1940s Disney animated short films
Menstrual cycle
Sponsored films
Disney educational films
United States National Film Registry films
1940s educational films
1951 films
1950s English-language films
1940s English-language films
1950s American films