“Menstruation Repression Discourse in Advertisements, An Ecofeminist Investigation,” was authored by Anna Kubovski, who earned her PhD in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel. Her dissertation examined the lived and embodied experiences of menstruators in Israel from an ecofeminist perspective.
Kubovski’s research focuses on the intersections between menstruation and environmental quality, ecofeminist theory, women’s reproductive health, sexuality, body, media, and consumer culture. Anna is also deeply involved in the community and education. She works as the At-Risk Youth Education Manager at the Haifa Rape Crisis Center, where she develops and implements educational programs to support and empower at-risk youth. She is also a lecturer at Ono Academic College, where she teaches courses on gender studies, education, and multiculturalism. Kubovski’s multifaceted career reflects her commitment to both scholarly inquiry and practical activism, making contributions to the fields of gender studies and ecofeminism.
Abstract
“Menstruation Repression Discourse in Advertisements, An Ecofeminist Investigation” is an analysis of advertisements for menstrual pads and tampons and the impact of these ads on women’s perceptions of self and their behavior as consumers. Themes developed in the analysis are presented to support Kubovski’s thesis that when a woman is persuaded to use the disposable pads and tampons advertised, she risks distancing herself from her body, experiencing shame, and ignoring physiologic symptoms and signs that might suggest illness. Additionally, Anna writes about how the use of disposable products harms the environment, and she explains that menstrual hygiene management alternatives, such as menstrual cups and washable pads and underwear, are underutilized as a result of the typical advertising of disposable products.
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