Packet of 'Meds' tampons
Object No. 2003/62/1
Menstruation is an important and inevitable part of women's lives from menarche to menopause. Since the 19th century commercial manufacturers have tapped into the lucrative market for the paraphernalia of menstruation. Napkins, both disposable and washable, and belts to support them were amongst the first products commercially produced. Tampons for internal use followed some time later. The American company Johnson & Johnson first manufactured Meds in the 1930s and by 1941 they were available in Australia. Tampons were slow to catch on and were frowned on in many circles, especially for unmarried girls. However, by the 1960s women whose mothers might have forbidden the use of tampons when they were younger, had accepted tampons for all the reasons that manufacturers advertised, including their invisibility, their disposability (just flush down the toilet), and the greater freedom they offered for participation in active sports, especially swimming. This packet of Meds dates from 1970 at the latest and was amongst the personal effects of a woman born around 1920. References: Brookes, Barbara, and Tennant, Margaret, Making girls modern: Pakeha women and menstruation in New Zealand, 1930-70, Women's History Review, 7(4), 1998, pp.565-581. Brookes, Barbara, and Tennant, Margaret, Periods in history, Women's Studies Journal, 10(2), September 1994, pp. 103-114. Megan Hicks Curator 2002
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Summary
Object Statement
Sanitary tampons, opened packet, consisting tampons (5) and instruction sheet, 'Meds', manufactured fibre / paper / cellophane, made by Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1970
Physical Description
The cardboard box in which the 'Meds' are packed is mainly pink, with white and blue text which reads in part: 'Meds by Modess / 10 Super Absorbent Tampons / Meds tampons / Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd / Sydney'. The box originally contained ten tampons, but five now remain, each individually wrapped in cellophane. There is also a small paper instruction leaflet. 'Meds' are absorbent, disposable tampons worn internally as a sponge for discharge during menstruation.
DIMENSIONS
Height
53 mm
Depth
33 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The tampons were made by Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
HISTORY
Notes
The packet of Meds were amongst the effects of East Lindfield (Sydney) woman who was born around 1920 and died in 2000. They were donated to the Powerhouse Museum by the woman's daughter-in-law, who remembers a conversation with her mother-in-law about this particular packet of Meds that took place in around 1971.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Anne Hicks, 2003
Acquisition Date
22 April 2003
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