I’m a first-generation Chinese Canadian — The eldest of three children, and the first in my family to graduate from university.

Having grown up in a primarily Jewish community: I am fond of latkes, know the difference between lox and smoked salmon, and am well informed about Jewish holidays and traditions. Amongst my friends, I am affectionately named “honorary Jew”, which is high praise for someone who has lived vicariously through a history that is not their own.

I did not know until university when we were taught to consider concepts more critically, that my identity was fractured. My parents, wanting so much for their children to assimilate, maintained a mostly English-speaking household “for the sake of the children,” and often spoke in hushed Cantonese whenever English words couldn’t quite describe what they were trying to convey. …

It’s been a hard week, a hard month, and while we’re at it, a hard year. The world is transitioning into a new normal, and although some of the details have changed, many of the finer moments still remain the same.

We strive to be positive, even if we may feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety based on our circumstances. It’s been difficult, mainly because we’ve tried so valiantly (I know I have), to not show the chip in our armour.

Thinking back to the days when we may have felt like the entire world would crumble if there was a single misstep, we may have found ourselves to be the same person frantically refreshing their email, checking in on all social media accounts, and living in the never-ending fear of missing out. How we handled those individual setbacks, whatever they may be, do influence how we move forward when conversations may be difficult. …

From hiding cloth pads and cups to the shameful feelings from Stephen King’s “Carrie,” being open about a natural part of female reproductive health is not, and has not, been a supportive journey for everyone.

Fortunately, the bloody revolution is here.

The shift over the last decade has been dramatic, particularly in how marketing and branding for menstrual products are undergoing a transformation to redefine the social perception of periods.

Also, cultural stigma and accessibility to menstrual products is the largest barrier in some parts of the world, but we are seeing steps toward improving that, too.

A Contested History of Uninspired Marketing

Historically, options for feminine hygiene were limited in the range of products. Typically bigger brands like Always and Kotex attracted buyers because they were easily accessible at the local drug store or supermarket. …