Nadya Okamoto

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Nadya Okamoto
Nadya Okamoto 2018.jpg
Okamoto at the 2018 Texas Teen Book Festival
Born (1998-02-11) February 11, 1998 (age 26)
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater Harvard University
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, author
Political party Democrat

Nadya Teresa Okamoto (born February 11, 1998) is an American social entrepreneur who is the founder and former executive director of the non-profit organization Period Inc., [1] which distributes menstrual hygiene products and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax. [2] In January 2020, Okamoto stepped down from Period Inc. as executive director; later that year, she left Period Inc. entirely after controversy over alleged misconduct. [2]

Contents

In November 2020, Okamoto co-founded and began serving as CEO of August, a for-profit, lifestyle period brand. [3] [4] The company also built Ask August, an educational "judgement-free platform" that "makes it easier for Generation Z to navigate the process of menstruation." [5]

In 2017, Okamoto launched an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council. [6] Her debut book, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement, was published in October 2018.

Early life

Okamoto was born in New York City and moved to Portland, Oregon at the age of nine. [7] [8] She is of Japanese and Taiwanese decent. [1] Her mother is Sophia Tzeng, and her father is Shintaro Okamoto. Okamoto is no longer in contact with her father, and she has stated that she experienced sexual abuse and domestic violence from him in her childhood. [9]

Education

Okamoto attended the private K-12 school Catlin Gabel as a Malone Scholar, a scholarship at the school offered to students in need of financial assistance. [10] [11] In December 2019, Catlin Gabel School published a report on the school's history of abuse by faculty towards students, wherein Okamoto's experience of harassment and grooming from her student advisor of four years was included. [12] Okamoto came forward publicly with more details on her experience related to the abuse in January 2020. [13] It was later revealed that her former student advisor was fired immediately after the inappropriate behavior was reported to the school. [13] He publicly denied all allegations. [13]

During her senior year of high school, Okamoto received the Gates Millennium Scholarship. [14] Okamoto was also a 2016 Coca-Cola scholar. [15] She received the first place 2016 Most Valuable Student Scholarship by the Elks National Foundation. [16] In October 2019, Okamoto was given Catlin Gabel's Distinguished Alumni award. [17]

Okamoto was accepted into early admission at Harvard College and graduated in June 2021. [18] [8]

Career

In December 2014, Okamoto founded Period Inc. with her high school classmate Vincent Forand, originally under the name Camions of Care. [1] The organization distributes menstrual hygiene products, has campus chapters at universities and high schools around the United States, and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax. [19] Under her leadership as executive director, the organization registered 800 chapters in all 50 US states and 40 other countries. [20] In 2017, Okamoto's organization hosted their first "Period Con," a global conference for young activists. [21] In 2018, Period Inc. made $420,000 in annual revenue [2] and in 2019 it was "the largest youth-run nongovernmental organization in women's health". [22]

Okamoto moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2016 to attend Harvard College. Less than seven months later, Okamoto announced her candidacy for Cambridge City Council, with a campaign team primarily composed of other Harvard students. She was the youngest candidate in the race and focused her campaign on issues of affordable housing, education equity, and climate change. Okamoto eventually lost the election, taking 15th place out of 26 candidates. [23] [24] [6]

In October 2018, Okamoto published her debut book, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement with publisher Simon & Schuster, which made the Kirkus Reviews list for Best Young Adult Nonfiction of 2018. [19] [25] In 2019, Okamoto served as the Chief Brand Officer of Juv Consulting, a marketing firm that targets Gen Z. [26]

In 2017, Okamoto was named as one of Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21. [27] Okamoto was awarded the L'Oréal Women of Worth award at the annual Glamour Women of the Year ceremony in November 2019. [28] In December 2019, Okamoto was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in law and policy [29] and Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential Ones to Watch. [22]

In January 2020, Okamoto stepped down from executive director of Period, Inc and moved into an advising role for the organization. [3] [30] In June 2020, activists accused Okamoto of monopolizing visibility and resources for her organization; Period Inc. confirmed that Okamoto was no longer working with the organization. [2] Okamoto was also accused of exaggerating the extent of her experience with homelessness, as she had described herself as "legally homeless" during a period when her family was experiencing financial instability and living with friends. [2] Period Inc. later released a report on the allegations that summarized the consequences of the organization's rapid growth and visibility, which noted that Okamoto was working with a transformative justice group on accountability. [31]

In November 2020, Okamoto co-founded the lifestyle period brand August with Nick Jain, the founder of Juv Consulting. [3] Okamoto serves as the CEO of the company. [4] [8] In March 2021, August launched a free educational database called Ask August. [32] [5] August raised nearly $2 million for their seed round, led by venture capital firm, Hannah Grey. [33] The company sells direct-to-consumer period products and pays the tampon tax for customers in states where the tax is applied. [18] [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon</span> Feminine hygiene product to absorb menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina

A tampon is a menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inserted correctly, a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood. However, in addition to menstrual blood, the tampon also absorbs the vagina's natural lubrication and bacteria, which can change the normal pH, increasing the risk of infections from the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but life-threatening infection that requires immediate medical attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic shock syndrome</span> Medical condition

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a condition caused by bacterial toxins. Symptoms may include fever, rash, skin peeling, and low blood pressure. There may also be symptoms related to the specific underlying infection such as mastitis, osteomyelitis, necrotising fasciitis, or pneumonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual cup</span> Feminine hygiene device worn inside the vagina during menstruation

A menstrual cup is a menstrual hygiene device which is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Its purpose is to collect menstrual fluid. Menstrual cups are usually made of flexible medical grade silicone, latex, or a thermoplastic isomer. They are shaped like a bell with a stem or a ring. The stem is used for insertion and removal, and the bell-shaped cup seals against the vaginal wall just below the cervix and collects menstrual fluid. This is unlike tampons and menstrual pads, which absorb the fluid instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual pad</span> Absorbent item worn in the underwear

A menstrual pad, or simply a pad, is an absorbent item worn by women in their underwear when menstruating, bleeding after giving birth, recovering from gynecologic surgery, experiencing a miscarriage or abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the vagina. A menstrual pad is a type of menstrual hygiene product that is worn externally, unlike tampons and menstrual cups, which are worn inside the vagina. Pads are generally changed by being stripped off the pants and panties, taking out the old pad, sticking the new one on the inside of the panties and pulling them back on. Pads are recommended to be changed every 3–4 hours to avoid certain bacteria that can fester in blood; this time also may differ depending on the kind worn, flow, and the time it is worn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feminine hygiene</span> Personal care products for menstruation, vaginal discharge etc.

Feminine hygiene products are personal care products used during menstruation, vaginal discharge, and other bodily functions related to the vulva and vagina. Products that are used during menstruation may also be called menstrual hygiene products, including menstrual pads, tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges and period panties. Feminine hygiene products also include products meant to cleanse the vulva or vagina, such as douches, feminine wipes, and soap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catlin Gabel School</span> Independent private school in Portland, Oregon, United States

The Catlin Gabel School is a private K–12 school located in Washington County, Oregon Annual enrollment is approximately 780 students from across the Portland metro area.

Always is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products, including maxi pads, ultra thin pads, pantyliners, disposable underwear for night-time wear, and vaginal wipes. A sister concern of Procter & Gamble, it was first invented and introduced in the United States in 1983 by Tom Osborn, a mid-level employee at Procter & Gamble, then nationally in May 1984. By the end of 1984, Always had also been introduced internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Arab world, Pakistan and Africa. Despite the Always' pads runaway international success, Procter & Gamble almost fired Tom Osborn twice in the early 1980s as he was developing this product.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture and menstruation</span>

There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the belief that menstruation should remain hidden. By contrast, in some hunter-gatherer societies, menstrual observances are viewed in a positive light, without any connotation of uncleanness.

Aisle is a Canadian company that manufactures washable feminine hygiene products, including cloth menstrual pads, period underwear, and menstrual cups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arunachalam Muruganantham</span> Indian social entrepreneur

Arunachalam Muruganantham (Padman) is a social entrepreneur from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. He is the inventor of a low-cost sanitary pad-making machine and is credited for innovating grassroots mechanisms for generating awareness about traditional unhygienic practices around menstruation in rural India. His mini-machines, which can manufacture sanitary pads for less than a third of the cost of commercial pads, have been installed in 23 of the 29 states of India in rural areas. He is currently planning to expand the production of these machines to 106 nations. The movie Period. End of Sentence. won the Academy Award for Best Documentary for the year 2018. The 2018 Hindi film Pad Man was made on his invention, where he was portrayed by Akshay Kumar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiran Gandhi</span> American singer

Kiran Gandhi, also known by her stage name Madame Gandhi, is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist and activist.

Laura Coryton is a British campaigner, feminist activist and author. She is the founder of Stop Taxing Periods, a campaign to abolish the Tampon Tax in the United Kingdom and make menstrual products exempt from VAT, and runs the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) social enterprise Sex Ed Matters. Coryton's first book 'Speak Up!', a campaign guide for rebel girls, was published by Harper Collins UK in 2019, the USA in 2022 and has been translated into French. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to Charitable Campaigning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon tax</span> Value-added tax or sales tax charged on feminine hygiene products

Tampon tax is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax, unlike the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities. Proponents of tax exemption argue that tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups and comparable products constitute basic, unavoidable necessities for women, and any additional taxes constitute a pink tax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NextGen Jane</span> Healthcare company

NextGen Jane is a data-driven women's healthcare company known for inventing a smart tampon system that offers insight into a woman's reproductive health system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink tax</span> Higher pricing of products marketed to women

The pink tax refers to the tendency for products marketed specifically toward women to be more expensive than those marketed toward men. This phenomenon is often attributed to gender-based price discrimination, however research shows that the primary cause is women sorting into goods with higher marginal costs. The name stems from the observation that many of the affected products are pink.

Joan T. A. Gabel is an American academic administrator, currently serving as the chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as president of the University of Minnesota.

Amika Sara George is a British activist who campaigns against period poverty in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual hygiene management</span> Access to menstrual hygiene products and disposal of used products

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) or menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) refers to access to menstrual hygiene products to absorb or collect the flow of blood during menstruation, privacy to change the materials, and access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials. It can also include the "broader systemic factors that link menstruation with health, well-being, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, and rights". Menstrual hygiene management can be particularly challenging for girls and women in developing countries, where clean water and toilet facilities are often inadequate. Menstrual waste is largely ignored in schools in developing countries, despite it being a significant problem. Menstruation can be a barrier to education for many girls, as a lack of effective sanitary products restricts girls' involvement in educational and social activities.

Ella Daish is a British environmental activist campaigning to persuade retailers and manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products. In February 2018, whilst working as a postal worker, she started the End Period Plastic campaign. She went on to become a full-time activist. The BBC put Daish on its 100 Women of 2019 annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Period underwear</span> Menstrual garment

Period underwear are absorbent garments designed to be worn during menstruation. Period underwear is designed like conventional underwear but it is made up of highly absorbent fabrics to soak up menstrual blood. Most commercially manufactured period underwear makes use of microfiber polyester fabric. It is recommended that period underwear should be changed every 8-12 hours to avoid leakage and infection.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kasulis, Kelly (September 28, 2016). "This Harvard 'Period Girl' Wants to Help Lead the 'Menstrual Equity Movement'". NBC News. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Peel, Sophie (July 29, 2020). "A Portland Student Became the Face of the Menstrual Equity Movement. Others Say She Silenced Them to Become Famous". Willamette Week . Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Murray, Rheana (November 24, 2020). "The period industry is all about shame — this brand wants to change that". Today . Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Berger, Chloe (April 16, 2022). "The Gen-Z CEO and influencer with almost 3 million followers explains how she makes it work". Fortune . Archived from the original on April 17, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Rodriguez, Leah (May 28, 2021). "This Judgment-Free Platform Is Ending Period Stigma One Embarrassing Question at a Time". Global Citizen. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Okamoto, Nadya (January 11, 2018). "I'm 19 and I Ran for City Council". Teen Vogue . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Akilah (April 13, 2017). "19-year-old Harvard freshman runs for City Council". The Boston Globe . Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Jones, CT (November 22, 2022). "This TikToker Wants the Internet to Like Periods. She Needs People to Like Her First". RollingStone . Archived from the original on November 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ Tretler, McKinley (November 8, 2018). "PERIOD talk with Nadya Okamoto". Assembly. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. ↑ Dumont, Katana (October 26, 2015). "Character Sketch PDX: Nadya Okamoto". Willamette Week . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Contributor Nadya Okamoto". HuffPost . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ Manning, Jeff (December 12, 2019). "Scathing report outlines decades of sexual abuse, inadequate response, at Catlin Gabel private school". The Oregonian . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Manning, Jeff (January 11, 2020). "Catlin Gabel's dirty secret: Former students go public for first time about private school's dark side". The Oregonian . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  14. ↑ Hammond, Betsy (May 4, 2016). "23 amazing Oregon students win full-ride Gates scholarships". The Oregonian . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  15. ↑ "December 2018 Connections". Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. December 17, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  16. ↑ "2016 MVS Scholarship Recipients Contest Winners". Elks. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni Awards". Catlin Gabel School. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Kim Raczka, Rachel (February 9, 2022). "This Gen Z-founded period brand is building a community around sustainable, inclusive menstrual care". Fast Company .
  19. 1 2 Wischhover, Cheryl (October 18, 2018). "How one woman is trying to end period stigma and the 'tampon tax'". Vox . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  20. ↑ Santilli, Mara (May 28, 2020). "There's a Global Movement to End Period Poverty, and Young Women Are Leading the Way". POPSUGAR Fitness. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ O'Brien, Sara Ashley (December 1, 2017). "First Period Con celebrates everyone who bleeds". CNN Business . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  22. 1 2 "The Bloomberg 50". Bloomberg News . December 4, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Nadya Teresa Okamoto – Cambridge City Council Candidate 2017". vote.cambridgecivic.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  24. ↑ Reichel, Chloe (October 13, 2017). "The Harvard Sophomore Aiming for City Council". Harvard Magazine.
  25. ↑ "Best YA Nonfiction of 2018". Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  26. ↑ Cheslaw, Louis (July 29, 2019). "Gen Z Are Pressuring the Travel Industry in All the Right Ways". Condé Nast Traveler . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  27. ↑ Bridge, Lizzie Arneson at (December 15, 2017). "Meet Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21 Class of 2017". Teen Vogue . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  28. ↑ Browchuk, Eliseé (November 12, 2019). "Tears of Triumph and Cheers for Change at the 2019 Glamour Women of the Year Awards". Vogue. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Nadya Okamoto, 21". Forbes . December 3, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Nadya Okamoto on Instagram: "BIG NEWS, @periodmovement is bringing on a new Executive Director! We've grown so much, and we're excited to keep going! ❤️ Yes, I'll keep…"". Instagram. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  31. ↑ "PERIOD Independent Review Dragonfly Partners" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 5, 2022.
  32. ↑ Srikanth, Anagha (March 30, 2021). "Gen Z is taking their sex education into their own hands — and tackling period poverty in the process". The Hill . Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  33. ↑ Ell, Kellie (June 25, 2021). "Period Products Brand August Secures Nearly $2 Million as the Menstrual Industry Continues to Blossom". Women's Wear Daily . Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  34. ↑ Barnes, Jenae (June 25, 2022). "These Menstruation Startups Offer Solutions To Tampon Shortage". Forbes .
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