What's with all the shame and disgust re, menstruation?

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

A Mexican singer Paticia Navidad was performing on a breakfast show today when her sanitary towel fell out live on tv.

She carried on...did very well...ignored the situation. But the amount of press this has had is silly.

When will people stop connecting periods with filth and shame? I don't want my DDs to grow up in a world where this is normal...I want people to learn to accept that it's not filthy or disgusting...it's life! For those of you who are curious, the vid is all over the place.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Ah I see it wasn't today but a couple of days ago. But my question stands. And AIBU to think women can do something about this constant feeling of shame and horror which accompanies menstruation and being "caught" out?

[FunnyCatVideo]

Take it you mean out of her bag, rather than out of her pants?

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

funny no out of her knickers.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I mean she'd hardly be carrying a bag whilst performing on tv.

[cornishvanillacream]

I know, I agree.

It's so silly.

[WorraLiberty]

I must live in a different world because I don't see the 'filth', 'shame' and 'horror' that you're talking about.

Many people don't like the sight of blood, whether it's from a period or a stab wound.

It doesn't mean they see filth, shame and horror.

[Shouldof]

You're absolutely right, but I would still be mortified if this happened to me, so guess I am a hypocrit.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Worra headlines like "Horrific Moment" etc the pad was clean anyway. And this aside there IS a culture of shame surrounding menstruation.

[FunnyCatVideo]

Sorry, dunno who she is, and didn't see it. Good on her for carrying on though.
While I'm not aware of this, I did see the photo Instagram removed as a woman had a blood stain on her trousers... There has long been embarrassment / disgust about periods, which is unwarranted. Was glad when that pic later went viral on other sources

[SantanaLopez]

How did it fall out of her knickers?

It's not prudish to say that you don't want to see someone else's period. It's blood!

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I try to imagine what it would be like if men had periods. Would they treat it a bit like farts and be proud or jokey about it?

[cornishvanillacream]

I remember reading magazines as a teenager and the 'embarrassing moments' always featured the discoverance of some sort of sanitary protection, usually by a male teacher or relative or (gasp) A Boy!

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Santana It just seemed to fall! Slipped out...who knows how. It's not the fact that people are squeamish....but the fear of being ridiculed...younger women in particular are ashamed about it....being on their period I mean.

[NataliaBaker]

Wardrobe malfunctions or slip ups in performances often make the news. I mean, how many times has Harry Styles falling over on stage done the rounds? Or celebrities being sick mid performance? I don't think she's being targeted because menstruation is disgusting.

[WorraLiberty]

Oh I see. If you're talking about media headlines, then they'll say anything to sell papers.

I would personally be embarrassed if something catching my vaginal secretions, was to suddenly make a public appearance though.

[Ruledbycatsandkids6]

How the hell did it fall out if her knickers?

Never heard of her but would think this was some sort if publicity stunt.

Never met anyone who views mensturation with shame horror etc.

I once bled onto a chair at work and was embaressed as hell. My dd bled through her school skirt and the teen lads she was with were courteous and lovely giving her a jumper to tie around her waist.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Well I'd certainly be pretty mortified if my sanitary towel fell out if I was mid croon on breakfast TV.

I don't want people to see my menstrual blood and I don't want to see anyone else's, just as I don't want to see anyone's poo covered toilet paper or snot drenched tissues.

Nothing to do with shame.

[Ruledbycatsandkids6]

And absolutely disagree with young women 'being on their period' and being embaressed.

I have teen dds with loads of friends and never once has any of them been embarrassed to talk about periods. They might view it as private but embaressed no.

Where do you base this assumption on? What research?

[SantanaLopez]

I think YABU- anything stained with bodily fluids is a bit yuck and not something you want to flash!

YY, I can't work out how the hell it came unstuck. It's lying about a metre and a half away from her as well

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

cats really? That's so good to hear....to be fair I only remember my own school days...and my DDs are too young to have periods....so I accept that I might be wrong and that things have moved on and if so...well thank goodness!

When I was a teen it was SO shameful...and the boys used to slap our arses and shout "Pad alert!" if they thought they felt a pad.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I can only think that it came unstuck because she had on small pants and/or she was sweaty which unstuck the sticky bit.

[mmollytoots]

this is a publicity stunt. there's no way it would have feel out like also its was clean as a whistle

[WorraLiberty]

When I was a teen it was a bit embarrassing but I think that had more to do with the old fashioned, catholic nuns who taught us about periods. My old fashioned Mum wouldn't even use the word 'period', she called them 'the other things'

But it's certainly not my experience now, or the experience of my nieces and friend's DDs.

It all seems to be very openly discussed in mixed classes at school, and generally accepted as part of life.

Yes, some girls will be shy/embarrassed about it but that's because it's a personal thing. However, that's not to say there's any shame or disgust involved.

Actually, my DS(16) popped home from the park a few months ago with a female friend, and asked if I had a sanitary towel for her. She just smiled and thanked me.

[Ruledbycatsandkids6]

Yep things have changed now TheHouse

For a start any boy doing the slap arse now and pointing out a pad or could be reported and charged with sexual assault.

Absolutely agree back in the day it was like that but not now.