Who knows everything about the world, is fluent in every language, and knows all your secrets?
That’s right – it’s The Period Fairy
. This amusing caricature was created by Stephanie Crippen-Myrick to bring a little levity to menstruation. The first episode of the PF’s new video series is online here.
I found this rather annoying and not in the least bit funny. It kind of seems like she just took the Tampax Pearl idea and turned in to a really boring movie. And I don’t know, I kind of feel like it shouldn’t be hitting all the stereotypes. But it’s late and it’s possible I would feel differently at another time.
” She’s a walking metaphor for the female condition”…that’s from the website summarizing who she is. Um…I don’t find the “period fairy” to be funny or witty. She’s sarcastic and shaming. Don’t we have enough of that in the mainstream media? I give the period fairy a thumbs down.
WRO
I don’t know, I found it funny. I don’t think it’s meant to be taken so seriously. It’s just witty and clever and I find the writing to be really good. Don’t think we need to overanalyze it. I like the idea that she’s worked with every woman in history and connects us all -it’s a nice thought. I’d like to see stories on that.
And honestly, that Tampax stuff is so bad. Catering to the least common denominator in my opinion. It’s not funny but kinda embarrassing. Least the Period Fairy didn’t sell out to Proctor and Gamble. You can just laugh at her or not, she’s not trying to get you to buy something.
Ha! She’s funny. Looks a lot softer in those sweats though. I don’t know about you but that’s how the period fairy is for me.
nice one minute and mean the next. pretty clever I say, haven’t seen anybody do it that way. It’s unique.
I’d watch another episode. agree with that other comment, least she’s not trying to sell me a tampon. she’s just funny.
What If we did not take ourselves so seriously,you know laughed at ourselves?
The stereotypes that are mentioned in the webisode are based on many observed behaviors.
You know I am right.. ..
Big deal!
If you really want to bring the “shame”of your monthly cycle out of the shadows and get rid of it,
then lighten up and laugh at yourself…
Life is too short..
Love and laughter heal..
Laughter makes it more Human..
Laughter bridges gaps,makes the hostile…happy!
Admittedly, “walking metaphor for the female condition” is a stretch. And yes, the Period Fairy relies on some unfortunate stereotypes about PMS. But the comparison to Tampax’s version of Mother Nature is harsh. In those ads, Mother Nature is bringing a gift no one wants, and delighting in the trouble she causes and the lengths women go to avoid her. The Period Fairy shares some of that attitude, but at the same time, she wants to be a friend to her “clients”. She wants to hang out, eat cookies, and watch bad movies with you; one could read this as your period encouraging you to relax, take some time out for yourself. Mother Nature, as represented by Tampax, is not your friend. She wants to drop the gift and leave. The Period Fairy is promoting the idea of having a relationship with one’s cycle, albeit a conflicted one.
The really striking thing is the portrayal of negotiation with the Period Fairy; if you watched the webisode all the way to the end, you saw that Lisa persuaded PF to come back on Tuesday. This suggests a flexible, changing, mutually influential relationship with one’s cycle – very different from how menstruation is portrayed pretty much everywhere else in mainstream media. And as Kathryn noted, PF is not trying to sell us anything.
I welcome the comments here. Whether you like or dislike the Period Fairy, it’s worthy of discussion on a blog about menstruation! There are so few popular culture representations of menstruation that aren’t either commercial or completely negative or both that I applaud the effort behind the Period Fairy©.