From Rags to Riches - The Industrial Revolution's Impact on Periods

Chichester’s English Pennyroyal Pills advertising pamphlet, ca. 1887. New-York Historical Society Library, Bella C. Landauer Collection.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries transformed women's lives in an unprecedented way, including how they experienced menstruation. This period (pun intended) saw the birth of the feminine hygiene industry as we know it, but not necessarily better care for menstrual pain.

The "Rag" Era

Before industrialization, most women used rags, cloths, or whatever fabric they could find. These were washed and reused, but the quality varied significantly based on economic status. Wealthy women might have had special linens, while poor women made do with scraps.

The phrase "on the rag"—still used today—comes from this era. So does "riding the cotton horse," which refers to the cloth stuffed into undergarments. But more telling is what's missing from historical records: virtually no discussion of pain management or the debilitating effects many women experienced.

The Rise of Patent Medicines

The Industrial Revolution brought both commercial menstrual products and a booming patent medicine industry. Patent medicines often targeted "female complaints" with concoctions containing alcohol, opium, or cocaine. These weren't prescribed by doctors but sold directly to women desperate for relief.

Dr. Earl Haas invented the modern tampon in 1929, but it wasn't until 1936 that Tampax began mass production. Meanwhile, companies like Johnson & Johnson created "Lister's Towels" – early disposable pads advertised with extreme discretion.

But these products were expensive and often advertised with extreme discretion. Marketing materials used euphemisms like "feminine hygiene" and "monthly sanitary needs." Direct mention of menstruation was taboo.

Medical Attitudes Harden

Paradoxically, as medicine professionalized in the 19th century, attitudes toward menstrual pain became more dismissive. Physicians increasingly viewed women as inherently hysterical, and menstrual complaints were often attributed to "nervousness" or "imagination" rather than genuine physical distress.

The Victorian "cult of true womanhood" expected women to suffer silently. Complaining about menstrual pain was seen as weak or morally deficient. Women were told to endure their monthly suffering as "God's will simply."

Working Women, Working Through Pain

The Industrial Revolution brought women into factory work, but workplace policies ignored menstrual realities. Women worked 12-hour shifts with minimal breaks, having to manage both periods and cramps while maintaining productivity. Missing work for menstrual pain was grounds for dismissal.

The situation was even worse for older women experiencing what we now know as perimenopause. Factory records from the late 1800s show that women in their 40s and 50s were frequently fired for "nervousness," "unreliability," or "difficult temperament" – terms that likely described symptoms we now recognize as hot flashes, mood changes, and irregular periods. These women, having dedicated their lives to work and family, found themselves unemployable at the very time their bodies were changing most dramatically.

Science and Superstition

Medical understanding advanced slowly. By 1900, doctors agreed that menstruation was normal, but many still believed menstrual pain was "natural" and required no treatment. Women were told to avoid exercise, cold water, and strong emotions – advice that often worsened their conditions.

The end of menstruation was even less understood. Victorian medical texts often described menopause as a dangerous "crisis" that could drive women insane or cause complete physical collapse. The term "change of life" suggested it was a temporary phase, but doctors did not understand how long it would last or how to help women through it. Many blamed women's symptoms on moral failings or excess "nervous energy."

The Global Picture

While Western women gained access to commercial products, adequate pain relief remained elusive. Colonial powers often imposed their menstrual taboos on colonized peoples, disrupting traditional remedies that had provided some relief for menstrual symptoms.

Tomorrow: "The Twentieth Century: From Silence to Science"