The Story of Menstruation
| The Story of Menstruation | |
|---|---|
 Title screen for The Story of Menstruation | |
| Produced by | Disney |
| Distributed by | Int'l Cellu-Company |
Release date | October 18, 1946 |
Running time | 10 minutes[1] |
| Country | Template:FilmUS |
| Language | English |
The Story of Menstruation is a 1946 10-minute American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions in 1946.[2] It was commissioned by the International Cello-Cotton Company (now Kimberly-Clark)[3] and was shown in a non-theatrical release to approximately 105 million American students in health education classes.[1]
History
It was part of a 1945 to 1951 series of films that Disney produced for American schools.[4] Gynecologist Mason Hohn was hired as a consultant to ensure that the film was scientifically accurate.[3] Hohn was hired to increase the likelihood that school doctors and nurses would allow the film to be shown.[3] Hohn's involvement led to a stronger emphasis on biology than other marketing by ICCC.[3] The Story of Menstruation increased its reputation when it received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.[1]
It was one of the first commercially sponsored films to be distributed to high schools.[3] It was distributed with a booklet for teachers and students called Very Personally Yours that featured advertising of the Kotex brand of products, and discouraged the use of tampons, where the market was dominated by the Tampax brand of rivals Procter & Gamble.[3]
Plot
The film uses animated diagrams to detail the menstrual cycle.[4] 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 also provides advice to avoid constipation and depression, and to always keep up a fine outward appearance.[2]
The Story of Menstruation is believed to be the first film to use the word vagina in its screenplay.[2] 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 maturation event."[citation needed] The menstrual flow was depicted as snow white instead of blood red.[4]
As the copyright was not renewed by the Walt Disney Corporation, the film is now in the public domain within the United States, and is available for viewing on several websites.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Vostral, Sharra (2008). Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 121–122. ISBN 0739113852. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c Film Threat review
- ^ a b c d e f Heinrich, Thomas (2004). Kotex, Kleenex, Huggies: Kimberly-Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business. Ohio State University Press. pp. 121-. ISBN 0814209769.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Griffin, Sean (2000). Tinker Belles and Evil Queens: The Walt Disney Company from the Inside Out. NYU Press. pp. 35–37. ISBN 0814731236. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
