Last week I wrote about having lunch with our neighbors at Bitch Magazine. The section on their site where they talk about their name really strikes a chord with me. I've had more than a few not-so-pleasant conversations with people who find the name GladRags offensive. They can't quite make the leap and see that we are taking the derogatory slang term for menstruation "on the rag" and turning it on its head. The dictionary definition of "gladrags" is one's finest clothes or party clothes. And that's the positive light in which we view our cycles and the products we make. Therefore, we take a demeaning term and take the sting out of it.

Over at Bitch Magazine, they discuss this issue much more eloquently (they are in the writing business after all) and I'm pasting an except below. But I hope you'll go to their site and read it in its entirety. It's an important thing for all women to hear.

"The writer Rebecca West, back in the day, said, "People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat." We'd argue that the word "bitch" is usually deployed for the same purpose. When it's being used as an insult, "bitch" is an epithet hurled at women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don't shy away from expressing them, and who don't sit by and smile uncomfortably if they're bothered or offended. If being an outspoken woman means being a bitch, we'll take that as a compliment, thanks."

 Well said, neighbors. Thank you.

 -Brenda