
It’s about bloody time: The first ever advert showing period blood has arrived
Turns out women don’t bleed blue liquid
The first ever sanitary product TV advert showing period blood, has been made by Bodyform.
The video begins with a red, blood-like liquid being poured on a sanitary towel, rather than the “traditional” blue liquid gel often used in adverts.
Contrary to popular belief, women don’t bleed blue liquid, they bleed blood. Periods are normal. Showing them should be too. #bloodnormal pic.twitter.com/zc9eoFvocQ
— Bodyform (@bodyform) October 17, 2017
The company are tackling the period blood taboo, by not showing it once, but twice in their latest ad.
The blood features again when it drips down a woman’s leg in the shower.
Bodyform said on Twitter: “Contrary to popular belief, women don’t bleed blue liquid, they bleed blood. Periods are normal. Showing them should be too. #bloodnormal”
And women are obviously thrilled about it:
YESSSS a marketing campaign that I think may finally change stereotypes of happy, white trouser wearing, yoghurt eating women on their periods. Thank you @bodyform ❤️ https://t.co/QrRlZ1OYgB
— Sophie Weaver (@Sophie_R_Weaver) October 17, 2017
bodyform not using that bullshit blue liquid in their ads is my fav thing of the day bodyform you’re doing great sweetie
— BOO-ise ?? (@humanrinds) October 17, 2017
What a day to work for @Bodyform. Thank you for the continued bravery to be at the forfront of taboo-breaking conversations. Best brand in the biz ?? #bloodnormal
— Alex Rowe (@alexrowebot) October 17, 2017
However, not everyone wants to get on board and some think it’s disgusting:
I’m sorry but @bodyform yes we get that blood is normal, but we don’t wanna see it on our tvs when we’re eating our dinner! Disgusting.
— Abbey? (@abbeylouuu) October 18, 2017
And others went as far to comparing period blood to poo:
Not sure ,Are we going to show poo soon too? Gone too far I think.
— Marie Ellis (@marie19530) October 17, 2017
Absolutely 0 reason to show blood at all. We know what the product does. Do you want to see a turd on an andrex advert? Do we censor poo?
— HRH QSweary LIV (@QSwearyLIV) October 17, 2017
So obviously, many still don’t understand the importance of this ground-breaking advert. Not only is it educational, it shows an accurate portrayal of what a period is actually like, rather than making it seem that women are aliens, bleeding blue gel on a monthly basis.
Still, there is progress to be made as publications like Metro, have praised the advert in an article, but weren’t fully prepared to use an actual image from the video.
Instead they used a picture of a jam doughnut, which apparently represent a bleeding vagina. Because women love it when their vaginas get compared to food!
Bodyform has used blood coloured blood in their advert and it’s about bloody time https://t.co/4czQ5fFoq2
— Metro (@MetroUK) October 17, 2017
Traci Baxter, the marketing manager a Bodyform told Cosmopolitan: “We know that the ‘period taboo’ is damaging. It means people are more likely to struggle with the effects of period poverty, whilst others struggle with their mental health and wellbeing.
“As a leader in feminine hygiene, we want to change this by challenging the taboo and ultimately removing the stigma, making it even easier for anyone to talk about periods, now and in the future.”