Breaking the Silence to Reclaim Yoni
In a cultural moment when brands are expected to act on social issues and consider all stakeholders, Yoni has led the charge on period power, organic menstrual care and education. What might be possible if we break the cultural taboo and shame around menstruation to help women all around the world reclaim their Yoni power?
Mariah Mansvelt, Co-Founder of Yoni
In episode 31, we peel back the layers of all things feminine care, social justice and period power with Mariah Mansvelt Beck, the co-founder of Yoni. The brand’s mission is to protect vaginas globally and revolutionize the fem care industry with 100% organic tampons, pads and pantyliners (with period proof underwear on the way)! With a Masters in International Development from the University of Cambridge and experience working for Doctors Without Borders alongside Yoga teaching experience, business was the last thing on her agenda, which then begs the question -- how did a social worker start a feminine hygiene company that eventually became B Corp certified?
After a cervical cancer scare, Mariah turned her life around by asking big important questions, one of which became the genesis for Yoni. What actually goes into the body, especially the most absorbent part (the vagina)? After much exploration, the answer became clear. Not only did mainstream menstrual care products lack transparent labelling, but they were heavily sprayed with pesticides. Only four companies dominated the fem care industry at that time. When you consider that the average woman wears 13,000 tampons during her lifetime, this equals 6 years of chemicals in her most intimate body part. In 2014, Yoni became one of the first brands to tackle this issue (and more), putting organic products on mainstream shelves.
So what does this mean today? The conversation has shifted in major ways, with brands like Nike and Pantone empowering women to talk openly about their menstruation, and lots more innovation on the product level (think CBD oils for cramps and biodegradable plastic tampon applicators). That said, 1 in 4 women in their menstruating years lack equal access to products or education, otherwise known as the “period poverty.” Without awareness, knowledge and more acceptance of the period conversation as the most NATURAL conversation, we risk keeping a generation of girls and women in a state of silence, disempowerment and shame. What could be possible if our next generation of girls (including those coming from our most underrepresented communities) broke through this universal taboo to reclaim their period power?
“Not everyone has to go have a TED talk about tampons and pads like myself. But some people do, so everyone talks about it a little bit more….and we start seeing changes.”
Other dynamic topics we cover:
An inside-out look at a B Corp certified business that benefits self, community and planet
What’s really going on with ‘Period Poverty’ and the ‘Period Tax’
Old story versus new story of conscious consumerism in the feminine hygiene industry
Why we need more diversity in the fem care space around product innovation and storytelling/advertising
