The Story of Menstruation
March 28, 2006 2:51 PM Subscribe
The Story of Menstruation (youtube video) -- A 1954 cartoon from Walt Disney, created at the behest of Kotex.
The book was so much better.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 3:00 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 3:00 PM on March 28, 2006
I hate how Disney cutesy-fies our storytelling heritage, moral folklore, time-honored tradition of eating Haagen-Daas, watching Sex in the City on DVD and bleeding for 3 days.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 3:06 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 3:06 PM on March 28, 2006
There are a suprising number of videos on youtube tagged with 'menstruation'
posted by delmoi at 3:09 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by delmoi at 3:09 PM on March 28, 2006
You found this searching for "Disney", right?
posted by Optamystic at 3:24 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Optamystic at 3:24 PM on March 28, 2006
I thought that was kinda sweet, and it made me nostalgic for elementary school. Coming in to a cool darkened classroom to watch film strips after eating a noisy sunny lunch of pb&j, fritos and a mini carton of chocolate milk, then playing 4-square on the hot asphalt...sigh...
posted by tula at 3:48 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by tula at 3:48 PM on March 28, 2006
I'm probably preaching to the choir, but...If you want ephemeral videos, the Prelinger Archive is the place.
Take the next week off. You'll need it.
posted by rollbiz at 4:03 PM on March 28, 2006
Take the next week off. You'll need it.
posted by rollbiz at 4:03 PM on March 28, 2006
Tula -- completely agree and great description of good times.
posted by narebuc at 4:52 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by narebuc at 4:52 PM on March 28, 2006
rollbiz: I have been needing something like that for approximately forever. Must have something to do with my love for the MST3K shorts.
Also, my girlfriend and I searched for "menstruation" on google video to see if we could find a faster download. We couldn't, but we did find Molly Grows Up (1953), which was significantly more hilarious. Mostly because Molly refers to her period as "the curse."
posted by malthas at 5:36 PM on March 28, 2006
Also, my girlfriend and I searched for "menstruation" on google video to see if we could find a faster download. We couldn't, but we did find Molly Grows Up (1953), which was significantly more hilarious. Mostly because Molly refers to her period as "the curse."
posted by malthas at 5:36 PM on March 28, 2006
"If the egg is impregnated, which happens when a woman is going to have a child..."
Wow, they really cleared that up.
posted by graventy at 5:47 PM on March 28, 2006
Wow, they really cleared that up.
posted by graventy at 5:47 PM on March 28, 2006
I thought that was kinda sweet, and it made me nostalgic for elementary school. Coming in to a cool darkened classroom to watch film strips after eating a noisy sunny lunch of pb&j, fritos and a mini carton of chocolate milk, then playing 4-square on the hot asphalt...sigh...
Ever notice how you never watched filmstrips in high school? It never occurred to me that everyone stopped watching them and switched to video at the same time, until we saw a filmstrip in one of my high school classes. The teacher said it wasn't available on video, and they couldn't make a video duplicate due to copyright restrictions (he was incorrect, by the way)
posted by delmoi at 6:07 PM on March 28, 2006
Ever notice how you never watched filmstrips in high school? It never occurred to me that everyone stopped watching them and switched to video at the same time, until we saw a filmstrip in one of my high school classes. The teacher said it wasn't available on video, and they couldn't make a video duplicate due to copyright restrictions (he was incorrect, by the way)
posted by delmoi at 6:07 PM on March 28, 2006
I love the whole "there's no pain, there's no pms, put your makeup on and suck it up!" theme.
Hee. Written by people who obviously never spent any time in a girl's school once the entire class started cycling together. The term psycho doesn't even begin to cover the insanity, and I'm not sure enough pamprin could have been delivered to keep us from our hot pads and chocolate.
posted by dejah420 at 6:12 PM on March 28, 2006
Hee. Written by people who obviously never spent any time in a girl's school once the entire class started cycling together. The term psycho doesn't even begin to cover the insanity, and I'm not sure enough pamprin could have been delivered to keep us from our hot pads and chocolate.
posted by dejah420 at 6:12 PM on March 28, 2006
I feel somehow cheated that the film they made us watch in 5th grade provided no advice on posture, constipation, or make-up.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:13 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:13 PM on March 28, 2006
Well, YouTube is down now. Is it as good as the movie where they teach menstruation to the girl with Down's Syndrome?
posted by dobbs at 6:17 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by dobbs at 6:17 PM on March 28, 2006
By the way, thanks, malthas, Molly Grows Up was awesome. I think my favorite part was where they tell the father.
That poor man.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:31 PM on March 28, 2006
That poor man.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:31 PM on March 28, 2006
Ever notice how you never watched filmstrips in high school?
The last filmstrip I saw was in a driver's ed class eight years ago. It was one of those awful scare films with footage of decapitated kids strewn across a field while a state trooper made pithy comments. Real nightmare material. I still don't have a driver's license.
posted by Marit at 6:53 PM on March 28, 2006
The last filmstrip I saw was in a driver's ed class eight years ago. It was one of those awful scare films with footage of decapitated kids strewn across a field while a state trooper made pithy comments. Real nightmare material. I still don't have a driver's license.
posted by Marit at 6:53 PM on March 28, 2006
Hahaha, "The curse"
Ok, what is going on with this "sit up straight" stuff, Is there any validity to that? Both movies said sitting up straight helps everything function.
I don't think sitting up straight is in any way natrual :P
posted by delmoi at 7:05 PM on March 28, 2006
Ok, what is going on with this "sit up straight" stuff, Is there any validity to that? Both movies said sitting up straight helps everything function.
I don't think sitting up straight is in any way natrual :P
posted by delmoi at 7:05 PM on March 28, 2006
OMG "The tab ends are attached to a narrow elastic belt which you can wear around your hips or waist"
Crazy.
posted by delmoi at 7:09 PM on March 28, 2006
Crazy.
posted by delmoi at 7:09 PM on March 28, 2006
"You can wash your hair, as long as you're sure to dry it quickly"
LOL.
posted by delmoi at 7:10 PM on March 28, 2006
LOL.
posted by delmoi at 7:10 PM on March 28, 2006
AHAHAHAH
This movie how much affection, the "Slave to the Man" playlist (same as 'moly grows up') is helarious
posted by delmoi at 7:22 PM on March 28, 2006
This movie how much affection, the "Slave to the Man" playlist (same as 'moly grows up') is helarious
posted by delmoi at 7:22 PM on March 28, 2006
Hmm, the guy in How Much Affection is a pretty good actor.
posted by delmoi at 7:36 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by delmoi at 7:36 PM on March 28, 2006
That cartoon made me wonder if Snow White ever got her period.
posted by Skygazer at 8:20 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Skygazer at 8:20 PM on March 28, 2006
Watch out for constipation!
Blech! What was the 50's obsession with bowel movements?
posted by symphonik at 8:25 PM on March 28, 2006
Blech! What was the 50's obsession with bowel movements?
posted by symphonik at 8:25 PM on March 28, 2006
You know, this might seem hilarious in retrospect, but from the perspective of its time, it was good, straightforward information: a clear explanation of the physical process, and exhortations to exercise and eat well and get on with your life. The "suck it up" aspect was intended to try and dispell some common myths-- you caught the bit about how it was common belief that you couldn't exercise or bathe during your period? The not bathing thing was so widespread that we were actually told in Health Class, straight-faced, that the flow would stop in water, something which bugged me for years (how the hell was your uterus supposed to know you were in the bath?). Also, the little pep talk in the middle ("Don't feel sorry for yourself on those days!") probably went some way to address the other common belief that women were too hormonal and irrational to function as intelligent human beings. Considering the kind of misinformation that was floating around then, finding out that periods were natural cycles controlled by pituitary glands beats the heck out of rocks passing out of your body, or the curse of Eve.
On the negative side, I get really really tired of schematic drawings of the female reproductive organs that represent the vagina as an open tube. The walls of the vagina are pressed together, guys; I don't even want to parse the reason behind the continual drawing of the vagina as if it was being held open by a long, cylindrical object. Also, it's not an "entrance", as described here; the vagina is an exit. All depends on what direction you're looking at it, I suppose.
posted by jokeefe at 8:32 PM on March 28, 2006
On the negative side, I get really really tired of schematic drawings of the female reproductive organs that represent the vagina as an open tube. The walls of the vagina are pressed together, guys; I don't even want to parse the reason behind the continual drawing of the vagina as if it was being held open by a long, cylindrical object. Also, it's not an "entrance", as described here; the vagina is an exit. All depends on what direction you're looking at it, I suppose.
posted by jokeefe at 8:32 PM on March 28, 2006
bleeding for 3 days. - MiltonRandKalman
You only bleed for 3 days?
/jealous
OMG "The tab ends are attached to a narrow elastic belt which you can wear around your hips or waist"
Crazy. - delmoi
They still give women those things in hospital after giving birth. *shudder*
posted by raedyn at 9:18 PM on March 28, 2006
You only bleed for 3 days?
/jealous
OMG "The tab ends are attached to a narrow elastic belt which you can wear around your hips or waist"
Crazy. - delmoi
They still give women those things in hospital after giving birth. *shudder*
posted by raedyn at 9:18 PM on March 28, 2006
No wonder my mother's views on menstruation and reproduction are so warped.
posted by bubblesonx at 9:44 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by bubblesonx at 9:44 PM on March 28, 2006
"Gather 'round, ye children, and I'll tell ye a bloddy tale... "
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:51 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:51 PM on March 28, 2006
Damn.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:52 PM on March 28, 2006
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:52 PM on March 28, 2006
Cartoon Brew has more info on the film:
"Disney's "The Story of Menstruation" was originally delivered to the International Cellu-Cotton Company on October 18, 1946. It has been estimated that the film has been seen by approximately ninety-three million American women. Neither sexuality nor reproduction is mentioned in this influential film, and an emphasis on sanitation makes it a more a hygienic crisis rather than a maturational event ..."
posted by kolophon at 12:48 AM on March 29, 2006
"Disney's "The Story of Menstruation" was originally delivered to the International Cellu-Cotton Company on October 18, 1946. It has been estimated that the film has been seen by approximately ninety-three million American women. Neither sexuality nor reproduction is mentioned in this influential film, and an emphasis on sanitation makes it a more a hygienic crisis rather than a maturational event ..."
posted by kolophon at 12:48 AM on March 29, 2006
raedyn - not at my hospital thank god, though that giant pad and net grandma-panties weren't that hot either. ;)
posted by dabitch at 1:55 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by dabitch at 1:55 AM on March 29, 2006
Well said jokeefe. For something 60 years old about a taboo subject I thought that was remarkably open and isn't off mark factually to any great extent (I guess the argument about the 'cylinder' depiction of the vagina is for graphical ease of understanding). Although obviously dated, there would be far worse ways for an 11 year old to be initially educated even today. It was rather excellent for a public health broadcast from the 40s. Thanks Steven C. Den Beste.
posted by peacay at 4:36 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by peacay at 4:36 AM on March 29, 2006
i've never been creeped out by menstruation (Ask any of my exes) ....until NOW.
posted by Doorstop at 6:22 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by Doorstop at 6:22 AM on March 29, 2006
I saw this in elementary school in the 1970's.
The booklet that went with it advised you not to give into negative feelings during PMS. There was a picture of a hand holding a compact, with the caption, "Turn on the Charm! FULL POWER!"
Those phrase still runs thru my head every 28 days or so, though the voice in my head is considerably more bitter than the one in the video.
posted by selfmedicating at 6:31 AM on March 29, 2006
The booklet that went with it advised you not to give into negative feelings during PMS. There was a picture of a hand holding a compact, with the caption, "Turn on the Charm! FULL POWER!"
Those phrase still runs thru my head every 28 days or so, though the voice in my head is considerably more bitter than the one in the video.
posted by selfmedicating at 6:31 AM on March 29, 2006
I think that's going to be my new catch phase, selfmedicating. It sounds so... superhero - in the silliest possible way.
posted by raedyn at 6:33 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by raedyn at 6:33 AM on March 29, 2006
That VD flick is narrated by Keenan Wynn, the guy who played Col 'Bat' Guano in Dr. Strangelove. What an oeuvre!
posted by jrb223 at 7:57 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by jrb223 at 7:57 AM on March 29, 2006
In the "times have changed" category, this Wonder Showzen clip on a visit from "Aunt Flo".
posted by bullitt 5 at 8:50 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by bullitt 5 at 8:50 AM on March 29, 2006
YouTube is back.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:09 AM on March 29, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:09 AM on March 29, 2006
A girl I was in school with called it "the curse". Took me ages to figure out wtf she was talking about... thought she was in some cult or something...
posted by normy at 12:01 PM on March 29, 2006
posted by normy at 12:01 PM on March 29, 2006
Similarly, I remember a friend in elementary school asking me "so, have yo got your ketchup?" and I was terribly confused. I knew all about periods, menstruation, reporduction, birth control & safer sex yet I couldn't grok what she was asking.
posted by raedyn at 12:31 PM on March 29, 2006
posted by raedyn at 12:31 PM on March 29, 2006
Doesn't the narrator sound like Barbara Billingsly to anyone else?
posted by dr_dank at 9:16 PM on March 29, 2006
posted by dr_dank at 9:16 PM on March 29, 2006
My cod I love old disney kitsch. I bet my mom saw that film strip in school. To this day she still refers to every menstruation product as a "kotex".
posted by hellameangirl at 12:09 PM on March 30, 2006
posted by hellameangirl at 12:09 PM on March 30, 2006
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posted by nola at 2:55 PM on March 28, 2006