Disposable absorbent article

A disposable absorbent article having a symmetric shape with respect to a longitudinal center line thereof, comprising:

• a liquid-permeable topsheet;
• a liquid-impermeable backsheet;
• a liquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween;
• a first pair of side flaps extending outward from transversely opposite side edges of said core and provided with elastically stretchable/contractile members;
• and
• a second pair of side flaps that are contiguous to and extend along said transversely opposite side edges of said core,
• each of said second pair of side flaps has a first proximal edge, a first distal edge, an upper surface for contacting a wearer's skin, and an opposite lower surface,
• each of said second pair of side flaps having a plurality of pleats formed on its upper surface, said plurality of pleats extending longitudinally of said second pair of side flaps and being spaced one from another between said first proximal edges and said first distal edges;
• and
• each of said plurality of pleats has a second proximal edge located at an associated one of said upper surfaces and a second distal edge that is provided with an elastically stretchable/contractile member, each of said plurality of pleats having a substantially equal height as measured from said second proximal edge to said second distal edge and being spaced apart from one another by a distance that is larger than the height thereof,
• the first distal edges of said second pair of side flaps lie closer to said longitudinal center line than to the first proximal edges thereof.