I think this Camp Gyno might be my future daughter! LOL
As you know, I really enjoy talking to women about their periods, especially when we can add a little sass and humor to the mix. This ad, created by www.HelloFlo.com, is awesome in so many ways, one of which is that it finally moves the period conversation past the giggly PMS jokes. Macy McGrail, the 9-YEAR OLD star of “Camp Gyno” talks about periods, tampons and *gasp* vaginas with far more ease and confidence than most 30 year-old women do. Clearly this is a huge shift in the right direction! In addition to this, the ad is totes tongue-in-cheek cute and funny!
When asked by Cosmo magazine if she was at all worried about her period’s arrival, McGrail said:
I’m not worried at all. I’m actually kind of excited because my mom said she’d subscribe me to HelloFlo and I’ll get candy every month. She said she’ll get me the starter kit and that will help me celebrate getting my first period and not dread it. That’s really the way it should be.
Seriously, after reading this I went into full-on heroine worship! I wish all girls had their own Camp Gyno because every girl should get the message that there should be ZERO shame around being female. The lines of communication should be opened long before a girl gets her first period so that body confidence outweighs any negative perception of her body. It will certainly save a bunch of shame and embarrassment in the long run! I know you are nodding your head yes in agreement!
Recently there has been a proliferation of online “period gift box” stores like HelloFlo. I hope it means that we women are finally giving (or receiving) the message that we should honor and nurture our bodies. Regardless of how you feel about these period subscription services, I think it’s important to note that they signify a heightened awareness and acceptance of the actual physical and emotional aspects of women’s hormonal health. Even if that awareness was started by a precocious tween!
What do you think of this ad? Brilliant or not? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
0 thoughts on “Camp Gyno – The red badge of courage”
Oh, didn’t realize this was made BY a tampon company…It’s still a great video for the girl’s kickass attitude, but I do wish it wasn’t to promote disposable, chemical-heavy menstrual products.
I agree that it’s great to see an alternative view out there in these types of commercials and think your suggestions are spot on.
I adore the boisterous and unashamed attitude this young actress brings, the allusions to courage and triumph, and the sassy music!
It makes me sit up and take notice when a video about periods pops up that differs from the usual demure and oddly flirtatious tampon ad that skirts around its very subject. It’s interesting to note that this video has a very militant feel to it, though – I think girls can do better than tell a friend having bad cramps to “suck it up”, the way a male drill sergeant might pick on a female boot camp trainee in pain during menstruation. Give that girl a good calcium/magnesium supplement or some ibuprofen and help her!
Maybe next these same people can make a video describing how awesome reusable pads and sea sponge tampons are, too!