Nadya Okamoto Built a Community to Focus on Destigmatizing Periods

Yes, you read that right. People are coming together over the common bond of… monthly bleeding. It’s been a taboo subject for generations. But, says it shouldn’t be and she’s gone to great lengths to make sure anyone with a period has a safe space to talk about it, gain information and find safe sanitary products. Nadya Okamoto

Her company is called August and identifies as a community-built lifestyle period brand. They recently launched their more sustainable versions of tampons, pads, and liners last week — and are the first brand to also cover the tampon tax for all subscribers.

She is ready to take on the controversial conversations and shed light on this discussion so others don’t feel shrouded in shame or confusion.

Why are Periods Considered Taboo Topics?

Periods are incredibly natural. So, how is it that they are considered such an embarrassing topic to discuss?

Thousands of years ago, many ancient cultures thought of periods as being dirty and unclean. This happened in part because of concerns about hygiene. There is still a lot of controversy about how certain laws and religious practices were informed by or played a role in influencing patriarchal societies.