The man almost passed out when I asked, can you sell our pads for us? I sent a few emails to shops asking if they could sell pads for us. One such email went to a shop that branded itself as focussing on sustainability.

I did not get a response, A week later I went into town and decided to pass by the shop. I approached a lady arranging the shelves and introduced myself as the woman that had sent in an inquiry about pads. The young woman quickly said let me take you to the boss, he receives all emails. I approached the boss, groomed and with a moustache. I introduced myself again and said I sent you an email inquiring about the possibility of having our pads sold here to assess the uptake and acceptability.

The man turned grey and looked at me as if I had attacked him with a knife. With all the strength he could master he mumbled and said, “To sell pads here does not work! No way! We sell food here, pads no, we cannot sell pads!»

Needless to say they sell tea, coffee, dried fruits, and natural products for skin and hair shampoos and other cosmetics. That was here in Switzerland. I left the shop quickly without looking back. I was overcome with guilt. I did not want torture anyone but it seems I had just done so. I had tortured this guy by asking him to sell our pads in his shop. Food and pads? Menstruation and pads once again viewed as something alien, something unappetizing. I wonder if the guy is aware that the women that work in his food shop bleed every month and yet still prepare the food he thinks should not be displayed next to new fresh pads.