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AIBU?

Is san pro appeal offensive?

113 replies

DrSeuss · 22/05/2018 19:33

I work in a secondary school in the London area. I am currently running an appeal for Red Box, an organisation which provides sanitary towels and other toiletries for those in need. (Please check out their website and maybe start your own appeal). I made posters today and put one in every department office, then tried to put one in the main school office where about six women work. I was told that this was not possible as a member of the public might see the poster there. I pointed out that fifty per cent of the public use san pro but the answer is still no. AIBU in finding this reasoning odd?

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 22/05/2018 19:34

Yes very odd and old fashioned. San pro isn’t a dirty secret that needs to be hidden away anymore.

KurriKurri · 22/05/2018 19:37

What is the argument of those objecting to your poster? That sanitary towels and periods are things that are shameful and never to be mentioned ? - odd message to send to the young women in the school I'd have thought if that is their thinking.

of course it isn't offensive, the objectors sound mad.

Off to Google Red Box - sounds like a great idea.

UrsulaPandress · 22/05/2018 19:38

Sigh.

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/05/2018 19:42

Show us the poster if you want. Block out identifying info if you'd like. Unless it features a bleeding vagina, I can't see how it would be offensive in any way.

Flexoset · 22/05/2018 19:42

I would find that attitude weird and misogynistic. Periods and sanpro are not shameful or offensive.

Also this sounds massively outdated. There are a million ads on TV for sanpro which are seen by absolutely everyone. Sometimes they even show ACTUAL SANPRO and demonstrate its absorbant qualities. gasps and clutches pearls

AsAProfessionalFekko · 22/05/2018 19:43

I was going glto say something g along g the lines of Terry up thread. It's not a secret is is?

DrSeuss · 22/05/2018 19:47

This image taken from their FB page and a request for donations with my name and room number. I limited the appeal to staff and so put the posters in staff only areas.

Is san pro appeal offensive?
OP posts:
AsAProfessionalFekko · 22/05/2018 19:53

What's wrong with that? Maybe it's the word knickers...

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 22/05/2018 19:55

So seeing a list of sanpro and associated items is offensive? Confused very odd.

As an aside, what's the reason the drawstring bags have to be handmade rather than bought?

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/05/2018 20:00

No pictures = not offensive.

Weirdos.

DitheringBlidiot · 22/05/2018 20:04

Need more sleep - maybe people are more inclined to donate if handmade as people enjoy a project

Stickerrocks · 22/05/2018 20:08

We have these posters in our local Co-op, Asda & Tesco Express. The boxes are often full to over flowing since I, Daniel Blake. Put them up anyway.

blueflorals · 22/05/2018 20:08

The detail of knickers and tights sounds pervy. Sorry 😐

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/05/2018 20:12

The detail of knickers and tights sounds pervy.

Why?

ErrolTheDragon · 22/05/2018 20:14

The opinion of anyone who finds this list of necessary items 'offensive' is not worth considering.

The detail of knickers and tights sounds pervy. Confused seriously?

FFS - the silver lining of the tampon tax was that the likes of George Osborne were cheerfully talking about sanpro in the House of Commons.

DumbledoresApprentice · 22/05/2018 20:15

What is pervy about asking people to donate dark coloured knickers?

Digestive28 · 22/05/2018 20:17

I do or local red box and only had one person have an issue, everyone else angry and surprised and happy to support. The one that was an issue is the kind of person to find issues with everything. It’s a good cause, don’t let them put you off!

PsychoPumpkin · 22/05/2018 20:19

Fantastic cause!

Stickerrocks · 22/05/2018 20:21

I have seen some fantastic knickers donated, which most young ladies would baulk at wearing. Plain & simple is the way forward, hence asking for black.

EspressoButler · 22/05/2018 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PandaPieForTea · 22/05/2018 20:24

Apparently Meghan Markle worked in this area as part of her charitable work and the royal family hasn’t needed to edit it out of her background because the public can’t handle it. www.royal.uk/duchess-sussex So I think it’s crazy that your organisation is more conservative than the royal family.

Passmethecrisps · 22/05/2018 20:24

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the poster or the request. I find it astonishing that someone might not only take offence internally but actually feel so empowered that they would insist the posters were removed.

Get them fired back up again op. It is a great cause and the majority of right minded people will support you.

And what in God’s name is wrong with a request for tights and knickers? How should it be worded? Hosiery and undergarments? Or should women simply do without these things as there mere presence is offensive

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Passmethecrisps · 22/05/2018 20:28

Who was it who told you to take the poster down? Was it the office staff or a member of SLT?

Stickerrocks · 22/05/2018 20:30

The Red Box Project provides emergency packs for girls who are either caught by surprise or can't provide their own. I'm sure most people understand the embarrassment of being caught out. Nobody is suggesting the girls should flush the wipes down the loo, as there will be bins to hand which they can use, but they can hardly do a full personal hygiene wash at the sinks in the girls toilets, can they?

pandarific · 22/05/2018 20:31

Can somebody please explain to me where the term 'san pro' came from? I've never heard it ever before coming across it on mumsnet, and I've never heard a young person use it - everyone I know just calls them 'pads'. Is it an old brand name of sanitary towels, like Always or something? Or just a shortening of the term 'sanitary protection'?

Where did it come from? Do I just live in a weird, san-proless bubble?

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