Managing Awkward Bodies
Cramps, headaches, body odor, acne—all things that came with menarche and "the monthlies." Manufacturers and marketers saw girls and women as a lucrative market for products that could help alleviate aches and pains but also embarrassment.
Cramps
Cramps slowed women and girls down. Not everyone had them, but entrepreneurs found a lucrative market in "the monthlies."
Humphrey's Homeopathic Preparation No 31 Painful Menstruation, about 1938-1940
Gift of Humphrey's Pharmacal, Inc.
Dr. Mead's Female Regulating Remedy, after 1879
Gift of Mr. James Harvey Young
Dr. Caldwell's Improved Prescription Powders, about 1930
Gift of Pepsin Syrup Company
Red Pills for Pale and Weak Women, around 1900
Gift of Mario Cassinelli, Jr.
Walker's Medicated Uterine Wafers, about 1900
Gift of Richard Holstein
Humphrey's Homeopathic Preparation No 31 Painful Menstruation, about 1938-1940
Gift of Humphrey's Pharmacal, Inc.
Dr. Mead's Female Regulating Remedy, after 1879
Gift of Mr. James Harvey Young
Dr. Caldwell's Improved Prescription Powders, about 1930
Gift of Pepsin Syrup Company
Red Pills for Pale and Weak Women, around 1900
Gift of Mario Cassinelli, Jr.
Walker's Medicated Uterine Wafers, about 1900
Gift of Richard Holstein
Odor
Advertisers told girls to worry about body odor. Products flooded the market and reinforced the message that sweet-smelling bodies were healthy and beautiful.
Merrell's Dousan, 1930-1950
Gift of Mary E. and Joseph F. Melfi, Jr., Tupper's Drug Store, Summerville, South Carolina
Queen Beauty Toilet Soap, 1908–1918
Gift of Bud and Sally Bassett
Sylvan Violet Toilet Talcum Powder
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden
Quest Deodorant Powder for Use on Sanitary Napkins, Unscented
Gift of H. Smith Richardson, Jr.
Betadine Douche
Gift of Gladys Abell and Lester D. Johnson, Jr., M.D.
Massengill Disposable Douche, Scent of Country Flowers, around 1980
Acne
In the early 1900s, acne or unhealthy skin could be a sign of puberty but also a range of diseases, including syphilis. Products said they could solve these problems.
Outdoor Girl Olive Oil Face Powder, Lido, after 1929
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden
Velvetina Complexion Soap, about 1917
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden
Dr. James P. Campbell's Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers, about 1890
Gift of Richard Holstein
Multi Scrub Medicated Cleansing Scrub for Acne and Oily Skin
Gift of Matthew E. Donahue, M.D., in Memory of Francis Donahue
Oxy Prevention Deep Cleansing Pads - Maximum Strength, about 1997
Outdoor Girl Olive Oil Face Powder, Lido, after 1929
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden
Velvetina Complexion Soap, about 1917
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Baden
Dr. James P. Campbell's Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers, about 1890
Gift of Richard Holstein
Multi Scrub Medicated Cleansing Scrub for Acne and Oily Skin
Gift of Matthew E. Donahue, M.D., in Memory of Francis Donahue
Oxy Prevention Deep Cleansing Pads - Maximum Strength, about 1997
