Leona Chalmers

“The Mother of the Menstrual Cup Movement”

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Before the release of the Diva Cup, the menstruation (or period) cup went through many changes, challenges and innovations in order to be accessible to people around the world today. According to a study done by Harvard’s School of Public Health, 19% of participants reported using menstrual cups, which is one in five people. However, this number would not exist if it wasn’t for the aspiring work of American actress, singer and businesswoman Leona W. Chalmers who allowed for this invention to become a modern classic, even being cited as the “Mother of the Menstrual Cup Movement”. From finding a solution to a common problem she and other women faced to dedicating decades of her life ensuring her work was acknowledged by others, Chalmers is definitely a role model everyone can learn from, especially when it comes to the progression of normalizing and encouraging discussions about periods

LIFE BEFORE THE MENSTRUAL CUP

Leona Chalmers (nee Leona Watson) was born in 1883 in the big city of Lexington, Kentucky. Her father was a businessman and her maternal side had a long line of doctors. In 1905, she moved to New York City to pursue her dream career as an opera singer and in order to fund her trip, she put up a loan for her piano which she unfortunately couldn’t pay back in time. In 1911, she married Charles Chalmers and moved to Philadelphia to settle down as a wife and mother. However, after her husband’s sudden death in 1932, she made the decision to move back to New York City to become the entrepreneur she is known as today.

MAIN INSPIRATION FOR MENSTRUAL CUP

Chalmers originally got into the subject of feminine hygiene through the talks she would have with her mother as a child about menstruation and sexuality. Later on in life, as a professional actor and singer on Broadway, she would use wades of cotton and gauze as makeshift tampons (this was before the invention of tampons) to avoid leaks and noticeable bulges in her costume. She, along with other female performers, found using these materials weren’t the most ideal since they didn’t soak up a lot of blood and had to be changed regularly, which conflicted with their fast paced schedules. Due to Chalmers long term interest in feminine hygiene and first hand uncomfortable experiences, she became an entrepreneur to combat this common issue by selling a convenient, reusable and comfortable menstrual product for women to use around America. 

 

 

PROGRESSION OF THE MENSTRUAL CUP

In 1935, Chalmers filed a patent for her idea of the menstrual cup, which she named the Tas-ette and was made out of vulcanized rubber. In 1937, the first version was created and released on shelves, although it did not sell very well for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the tampon was released that same year and had already made its mark in the period industry, giving it a competitive advantage over Tas-ette as women were already familiar with the product. Another reason is that women found it embarrassing to use the product, considering how it was supposed to be inserted. This ideology was exacerbated by the way feminine hygiene was viewed at the time, being seen as disgusting or unnatural, which made women believe that Tas-ette was adding more fuel to the fire. But even then, Chalmers was still passionate about her product as she decided to publish a book named ‘The Intimate Side of a Woman’s Life’, where she chronicled important steps and tips to improving female hygiene, and was eventually released as a form of marketing. 

Fast forward to World War II, the production of the Tas-ette cup had completely shut down due to the shortage in rubber. Chalmers continued to advertise her product on and off during the ‘40s and ‘50s, by placing her product in magazines and newspapers. Interestingly, whenever she would give out medical information, she would state she was a “doctor’s wife”, to improve her credibility despite that being a complete lie. It was only after a whole 19 years later, in 1958, when the product would get a new design with different materials and be released to the public again. This time Chalmers sold her patent to a business man by the name of Robert Oreck who was discovered through an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal asking for new business ideas. Through this connection, the Tas-ette became the first period product to grace a Times Square Billboard, something that would cause major controversy due to the taboo surrounding menstruation but ultimately served as a progressive step in the right direction of destigmatizing the topic. 

Leona Chalmers died in Tudor City Apartment, New York, however it’s unknown what her date of death exactly was as her personal life wasn’t too documented. Even with the death of its creator, Oreck decided to carry on the legacy by selling and advertising the Tas-ette. Problem was that sales were low, so Oreck rebranded with a new name “Tassaway” and made the cups one time use only, rather than reusable like originally intended, so that consumers would have to buy them multiple times. Despite all the newspaper advertisements, TV commercials, billboards, product distribution around the US and Europe, and collaborations with people like J. Walter Thompson, the rebrand unfortunately was not successful. 

Though this seemed to be the end of Chalmer’s menstrual cup, a former buyer, Lou Crawford, took the initiative of reviving the product from the dead. She called her product Keeper and it came during the time of T.S.S scare (it was believed that menstruating women were more likely to get the condition if they left their tampons in for too long), which made its timing almost perfect, allowing it receive a cult following for those in ‘the know’. Afterwards, sales distributors of the Keeper wanted to sell their own menstrual cup in the UK called the Mooncup, using silicone instead of rubber. Then, in 2003, the most well recognized menstrual cup, the DivaCup, started production by a mother and daughter team in Canada, and from then on, the rest is history.

 

SIGNIFICANCE

Though Leona Chalmers did not invent the menstrual cup, she most definitely popularized it and without her expertise in business and marketing, we likely would not have acknowledged such an incredible invention. It’s due to Chalmers that we now have access to a menstrual product that ensures sustainability and reusability, allowing for women to spend less money on countless boxes of pads and tampons. The menstrual cup also serves as a more eco-friendly option because it doesn’t break down into microplastics unlike other period products that use plastic. Some other significant benefits include, but are not limited to, less odour and irritation in the vaginal area, longer wear time (up to 12 hours at a time), leak protection and comfortable wear. 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, women like Leona Chalmers deserve to be recognized for their many contributions to modern technology and entrepreneurship. Conversations surrounding menstruation have definitely changed over the past century with women being more open to talk about their experiences and embracing this natural aspect of themselves that, for so long, has been labeled as something to be ashamed of. This fact is thanks to Leona Chalmers and other women who all stood up about what they thought was necessary, even if their gender made it seem impossible. For this year’s International Women’s Day we should take the time to appreciate all the women and girls who came before us and gave us the tools we need to fight against current day problems. Their perseverance continues to inspire future generations to challenge societal norms and drive meaningful change in our world for the better. 

 

 

References

Leona Chalmers. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Chalmers

Leona W. Chalmers. (n.d.). Science Museum Group Collection. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp167799/leona-w-chalmers

Rosas, K. (2024, July 9). Leona Chalmers | Actress, Singer, Entrepreneur, Author, Inventor, and Mother of the Menstrual Cup. Period Nirvana. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://www.periodnirvana.com/leona-chalmers-menstrual-cup/