The media uses diction and juxtaposition to characterize society as primitive and sexist in its treatment of menstruation. In his article “Free the Tampons,” reporter Rony Caryn of The New York Times notes that “even in the age of oversharing, periods are treated like a dirty little secret” (Caryn). While “dirty little secret” refers to a truth that people conceal from others because they perceive it as too embarrassing to share, Caryn’s use of the word “even” indicates that he sees this view of menstruation as anachronistic, implying that society should be evolved past this sexist view of menstruation but is not. His article title also criticizes how society treats menstruation. The word “free” in “Free the Tampons” implies that society is
