BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Mary Kenner
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, or Mary Kenner, as she is more popularly known, is credited with the invention of the first ever sanitary napkin. This invention is particularly important because it changed the way those who menstruate viewed themselves. It freed us from the notions of being dirty, and soiled. In this blog, I write about Mary Kenner’s life, and her invention. I also consider her experiences as a black women inventor.
Mary Kenner was born in North Carolina on May 17, 1912. Her father too, was an inventor and led his life conceiving practical designs and products to make daily life simple. Mary credits her father, with kindling the spark in her for invention at an early age. She graduated from high school in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1931 and was matriculated in Howard University. She however, dropped out due to financial difficulties, and moved to Washington DC with her family.
Mary Kenner invented an adjustable sanitary belt, after leaving university and applied for it to be patented in 1954. Her application was approved in 1956. The invention was described as a tool to prevent chafing and irritation’. The company that was first interested in her product, rejected the invention when they found out she was Black. This pushed her endeavours behind by miles, since her patent soon expired and was open to be manufactured and duplicated without any consequences. She created a nuanced version of the invention, which is a ‘moisture resistant pocket’. Her sanitary belts were useful in holding firm the pads, and causing blood leakage.
Mary Kenner’s life and invention was a poignant story to tell, because it is the intersection of race, gender, and entrepreneurship. In her interviews, Mary speaks about how she was kept away from education and professional training, in invention and building designs, since it was not a domain that women were encouraged to engage in. Without certification and training programmes, she demonstrated a gumption in her skill and passion and continued to invent products and designs. When she did finally come up with the sanitary belt, it was immediately rejected by companies because she was African American, and she did not earn from her invention. The systemic racism prevalent in society caused the world to lose out on a crucial invention that with time went on to change the way we live. These intersectional considerations are vital, because they give us the chance to understand its implications in the world. Mary Kenner, also explained how she suffered financially when her patents expired, she lost her protection rights. Mary Kenner found herself at the centre of two incredibly moving forces: race and gender. They pulled her down, and restricted her mobility in the society. She was categorised and stereotyped, and her entrepreneurship, enterprise and skill were brought into question. Arrangements of power and hierarchy played into her revolutionary product.
Her courage and story is historic. Her work is historic. Although we did not recognise her with the renaissance she brought about with her product, we must do it now. We must address and acknowledge our weaknesses as a society, in discounting the work of Black individuals, and credit, celebrate, champion their contributions to the world, and pledge to acclaim the work and efforts of African American peoples in our society.