Yesterday I was spending some quality time on Facebook, when I saw that Amy posted something about a menstruating vagina T-shirt. Which is an excellent way to get to Friendship Probation, by the way.
Here it is:
You can buy it here!
But I have some questions, besides the obvious why. I mean, I’m the type of person who carries a tampon up my sleeve on my way to the bathroom, so I’m not into advertising that special time of the month. But I’m all for destigmatizing, so I’m willing to learn.
However, I do need some help with the image.
First of all, the pubic hair screams Al Hirschfeld. Do you remember him? He’s the artist who hid the name NINA (his daughter’s name) in his artwork. Don’t bother looking for the NINAs in the public hair, though. I tried. Nary a Nina.
The second thing is I’m not sure what’s going on with that manicure. I assume it was one of those PMS-fueled bad decisions, but still, if you’re going to pose full frontal, shouldn’t your nail at least look good?
And what is she doing in this graphic, exactly? And why do the fingers look so arthritic?
Oh, and WHY IS THERE A MENSTRUATING VAGINA ON A T-SHIRT AND I REALLY HOPE MY OFFICE DOES SECRET SANTA THIS YEAR.
But you know, maybe this t-shirt is making a difference.
Personally, I will no longer hide a tampon up my sleeve on my way to the ladies’ room.
Instead, I will carry it in my teeth.
Thank you, American Apparel.
One year ago ...
- Upstairs, Downstairs - 2011
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I was thinking the same thing about the old lady hands. BTW, my shirt size is S/M. I’m sure my 12 yr old would love to see this staring back at her at the dinner table.
Be carefull with that tampon…. whenever my coworkers see me carry one they avoid me for the rest of the day and look at me like I am a potential ax-murderer.
“Nary a Nina.” I die.
I would laugh out loud at this post, but unfortunately I fainted dead away at the actual sight of the t-shirt.
Twitter: wendiaarons
October 9, 2013 at 10:26 am
Based on the nail art alone, she’s showing her circus boss that she just got her period and can’t perform on the trapeze later.
I think the nails SCREAM Pinterest! But the bleeding vagina SCREAMS WHAT IN THE SWEET FUCK IS HAPPENING?!! Fun times!
Bad taste is not okay because it pretends to be politically correct. How is this Feminist to display bad art with a dubious message. It’s vaguely masturbatory with those odd fingernails in that position as well.
Does not elevate “the curse”
I’m just disgusted that the blood isn’t ombré.
Wow I have seen it all now!
Luckily, they come in “unisex size”, so guys can wear ’em, but “women may prefer to order one size down.”
Twitter: momofali
October 9, 2013 at 11:47 am
What the ever-living hell?
I wanted to ask why, but then decided I had other things to think about. Like how much I really enjoyed Obama saying “mamblypambly” in his speech yesterday.
Ugh! I could have gone my entire life, happily, without seeing that. I may not know art but I know garbage when I see it.
Can’t our periods get the same status as pooping? We all do it, no big deal, it’s just nature, but we don’t have to look at each other doing it.
You’re right about the hands though, they are super creepy and might actually make this worse.
Twitter: Mommynanibooboo
October 9, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I do not understand what is happening.
Also, I looked for Nina anyway.
American Apparel refers to it as “self-pleasing artwork.”
Riiiiight. This artwork does not please me. I’ve gotta agree with the crowd here: it’s the nails.
Speaking of the art form….
I am not sure if it is not fake……
May be a lipstick?
Twitter: SelfishMom
October 9, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Wait, am I actually ON friendship probation? Because that’s like being let in to a very exclusive club! Also, the mention of Secret Santa made me cackle out loud and my son asked why and I said I read something funny and he said “Can I read it?” and I said no and he said “Oh, so it’s inappropriate, huh? That’s fine, I’ll find it on my own.” So there may be a 12-year-old searching my browser history and reading your blog later.
God I hope your dad didn’t read this post!
I can’t believe this t-shirt made it to store shelves. It’s f*cking disgusting. Anyone who wears it is someone I will NEVER EVER EVER SPEAK TO. Because how dumb are you to waste your money this way? God, the stupidity. Geez. I had no idea I had such strong feelings about this shirt!
I carry my tampons to the bathroom like a badge of youth and virality. I work with a bunch of angry bitter women who stopped ovulating decades ago. That tampon is like a tiara.
@Aussa — “That tampon is like a tiara.” ahhhhhhhahahahaha
“It’s almost two a.m. and I’m in an airport waiting for a six a.m. flight. This made me laugh so hard I woke up the people sleeping on the bench seats behind me.
And yes, the shirt is disturbing. I’ve always wondered why, if having a period is such a natural part of life, we spend so much time declaring that having a period is a natural part of life.
I kept thinking you were going to tell me it was something else and I’d look at it again and see a mountain instead of a menstruating vagina or something, but no.
Twitter: Mamabirddiaries
October 10, 2013 at 8:21 am
Whoa. That’s is insane. I can’t wait to buy the “pooping butt” shirt.
Twitter: mannahattamamma
October 10, 2013 at 8:33 am
Please tell me that the …er… red bits on that t-shirt are, you know, textural: like velvet fabric. Or maybe there should be some kind of er…furry bit where the hair is? Dare I say beaver? No. I won’t say that.
I think perhaps that every member of the GOP should get one of those t-shirts. Maybe with Hillary 2016 stenciled on the back.
Twitter: Peajaye
October 10, 2013 at 9:35 am
Sorry, I just don’t see it. I thought it looked like a vulture (the pinky finger looks like the beak) sitting in a tree (the pubic hair looks like leaves) and it’s got some sort of bleeding prey in its claws.
Related: I’m gay.
Twitter: sayitrahshay
October 10, 2013 at 12:35 pm
I can’t unsee this but thank you for the laugh. My office does a Thieving Santa and this screams “gag” gift. Pun intended.
Twitter: marta28
October 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm
I put my tampon in my bra because I rarely have pockets and sleeves seem to just ask for trouble.
Also. I imagine I will have nightmares about that tshirt tonight and since I’m staying at my mother in laws I will direct her to you when she wonders why I start screaming “not the vagina!”
I thought I had seen it all when it comes to clothing, but no. No, I most certainly had not.