Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the Western approach to menstruation and how it factors into constructions of the ideas of (cis) womanhood, so it seemed like a happy bit of synchronicity when the Lammily doll’s new accessory popped up on my social media feeds. The doll, marketed as boasting the proportions of the “average 19-year-old American woman,” can now celebrate puberty with a “period party” pack, a $10 add-on that includes:
- an educational pamphlet
- a pair of panties
- more than a dozen reusable colored pads and liners stickers
- a calendar and expressive stickers
A fascinating idea, though presented with an absolutely horrifying commercial that I can’t even begin to unpack (it’s a world of no), but though I’m behind the notion here, I have some reservations. I absolutely support the idea of making menstrual talk mainstream. Periods should be no different than any other bodily function, fair game in any venue when other body discussion are acceptable, and yet so many women are still secretive and shameful about their monthly menses. Worse still is the wealth of misinformation many women grow up with about pregnancy risks, sex, and menstrual solutions. The Period Party pack confronts some of that face-on, with information about common period myths that continue to persist in young women, such as whether or not it’s okay to exercise while menstruating. The pamphlet’s bright colors and cheerful tampon balloons too make this seem like no big deal — this is no hush-hush sheet of paper from a “special” session of health class, but an object nearly as bright as any Lisa Frank-style folder embossed with psychedelic unicorns vomiting rainbows.
But while the gesture is a good one, and I admire the effort to talk about both pads and tampons in the pamphlet, the pack of course only includes pads. Makes sense, as the doll has no vagina (so far as I know, at least…), to limit the actual accessories in this way. But why limit the information in the packet? If we’re going to talk frankly about periods, how much do we include?
Many young women are nervous about tampons, so it seems likely they aren’t ready to venture into menstrual cups, natural sponge solutions, or medical solutions, but is there any reason not to at least mention the wealth of other options available to women? The tracking stickers, too, offer a variety of smiley faces — some not so smiley, some sickly — that seem designed to track things like nausea and pain as well as lighter, easier days, but there doesn’t seem to be any mention of this in the information itself. I get it; the pamphlet is designed to be a positive introduction to periods. Yay, period! One day maybe you’ll get pregnant! (Yes, that’s actually included.)
Periods are normal, but there isn’t much that’s terribly great about them. They’re expensive and while there are options for circumventing the cycle, they aren’t available in many places or are too costly for some women (assuming they even know about them). Instead of being taught circumvention or even multiple methods of management, we’re taught that periods are just something women must suffer. But periods are painful, and more, they’re an excuse for everyone to talk about how emotional (read: irrational) we are. But the reward of that some-day pregnancy is a real misstep here, I think. Sure, mention the possibility of pregnancy. But referring to it as some sort of shining gold ring of victory, even a chosen one, strikes me as off the mark, not only because that isn’t the ultimate aim for many women, but for a bevy of other reasons that may keep cycles and periods from being “normalized” as presented here. Instead, what about managing the milestone of a period in a healthy, easy way as an end unto itself, full stop, so you can do your math homework, get to volleyball practice, hit up the fall dance, or roll around on the sofa watching Dr. Who on Netflix without leaving a blood trail? If my daughter ever ends up with one of these dolls and accessories, first thing I’m likely to do is hit up those panties with a red Sharpie. It’s not like anyone’s period panties are sacred.
Want realism, Lammily? There it is: periods are a thing to be managed. To be dealt with, and the world doesn’t always make it easy for you.
While the Lammily doll’s marketing has been criticized by some for using words like “normal,” an issue for a doll only available as long-haired brunette with a still-slim/fit body, reviews have been largely positive. Here, unsurprisingly, it’s mixed, but the knee-jerk reactions of some commenters I’ve seen on news stories — and even in some news stories themselves — are based around the idea that the doll goes too far. Too far into what? A fairy-tale idea of magical periods and colorful pad stickers? For a doll that can also have acne and cellulite (even tattoos!), I’d argue it doesn’t go nearly far enough.
