Period talk event...men invited and I feel weird about that

There are 2 different, separate conversations to be had.
One is to educate men about periods. The other is for women to talk about periods.
They cant take place at the same time.

Not everything has to be inclusive of people who are outside of the target group.

MinesaBottle
Could you clarify the information you have about the event? E.g. who is facilitating the event, how long it lasts, how its billed or described etc

You might get more relevant advice depending on the expectations of the event.
Are there other IWD events at work?

It would be interesting to see what the men would actually have to talk about. Pound to a penny if they were in a room on their own, they wouldn't be talking about periods.

All the men will go 'Ewww!' and stay well away.

I agree with assassinated

If the talk was about General things like period poverty or taboos around periods then I wouldn't have a massive problem with men there

But if its about personal things like dealing with periods at work then i dont think they should take part

assasinateds idea of a general talk and then men and women going off separately to talk about specifics and then bought together at the end is what i would rather see happen

I was on a training recently about womens health and period poverty was covered the loudest most opinionated person was a man and it was flaming irritating yanbu I don't think everything has to be inclusive.

This may not be useful but this brings to mind that Netflix Doc 'Period' about how it is such a taboo subject in India. Might be useful as an example of how women should feel free to speak at this event and not be restricted in any way.

Maybe I've misunderstood, but this sounds like it's an event targeted at women dealing with their periods in your workplace? Is that right? If so, I certainly wouldn't discuss my own experience in front of male colleagues, unless they were there specifically to gather info and take notes for something in an official capacity. I absolutely agree that men should be involved and educated about period related issues, but not that women have to disclose private information in order to achieve that.

Well, unless, of course, there's a session about dealing with erections at work, or needing to poo. They're normal bodily functions too, but nobody would expect men to share that info with colleagues.

I think there is not a chance in hell that a bloke won't have a strong opinion and express it. I would definitely go, though, but I wouldn't share anything personal in a situation like that. I would challenge any man that tried to dominate proceedings. I think I'd quite enjoy that.

This is one of the areas where I think that women really need to become more assertive. It is our area of expertise after all and if we want men to take it seriously we have to make them understand instead of letting them think they know everything. I can appreciate why it’s uncomfoftable but most period prejudice comes from men and sometimes important messages are uncomfortable. I would encourage you to put your personal discomfort aside and support other women in sharing the truth about periods by setting a positive example. I know it’s hard but it’s something we all need to work towards as a sex. We shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed by our periods even when men are present. I know it’s easuer said than done and I speak as someone who benefitted by going through puberty in a sex segregated environment so I haven’t had as much shame confitioning as most women but sometimes we need to just get over it and say ‘you know what, I’m sitting on a blood/tissue soaked sanitary towel right now and that’s fine’ because it is.

Anytime there is so much research and evidence of how in meetings and discussions men take over and speak more often and for longer. Yes, you would hope that women would be able to interrupt and talk over any men that like the sound of their own voice, but clearly that is something that doesn't happen enough. Particularly on IWD, organisers of events like this need to be aware of things like this and actively work to negate it.

IME events like this end up being all about the blokes present. If there are 2 blokes and 150 women, the Chair will let the 2 blokes take 50% of the floor time (and the blokes will feel completely entitled to do so) 'for balance' and even all the women will be fawning and making the whole event about the bloke's reasons for attending rather than the women's. Sexist bias is a right pain in the arse.

If the focus of the event is about breaking down the taboos around periods then it makes sense to include men.

I cant imagine an event looking at all those issues would also be able to deal with the specifics of your work place or involve personal discussion. It seems too broad a remit.

If you're discussing how to cope with heavy periods and pain whilst on shift, then men need to listen to the outcome of such a discussion, surely, rather than be involved in the discussion itself. So women could be discussing it whilst may men have a different session maybe an any questions type thing. Then everyone could get back together and the men could listen to the conclusions and the general points made by the women. Then those can be discussed. Or something like that.

I agree that men should be aware and be informed. But they don't need to be involved in everything all of the time, especially if it is something they have no experience of.

If a man did try to take over the discussion, surely there would be enough women there to negate that! It's 2019, not the 1950's, women can speak up without a referee!

Yes, I agree that we are always talking about wanting great normalisation and understanding from men about periods, but that will never happen if we never let them listen (emphasis on listen here!) about our experiences of it. However, you are perfectly within your rights not to want to discuss it with men.

All this is assuming this event is open to actual men and not 'anyone who identifies as a woman' men!

Each to their own, if you feel that uncomfortable then I would not go to it. I think it is great that they are making this meeting inclusive to men as they are often unaware of the issues women have worldwide. Also these men have wives,mothers,daughters etc so they do also have an insight into this natural occurrence and may even join in the conversation with helpful comments or ideas. I would have no issue going to a mixed conversation and welcome the openness it will create.

I grew up with men around me wondering why I couldn’t “hold it in” they thought it was like peeing.. and I live with one who thought you peed from your vagina, he was genuinely baffled when I said you didn’t have to take a mooncup/tampon out to pee. Both of the men above are well educated and successful in their careers.

Half of the blokes I know wouldn’t buy their girlfriends/wife’s/partners sanpros because they literally don’t know what they’d need, ie Tena vs tampax or different absorbencies.. ex-dp found two tampons and couldn’t believe how big one was vs the other (ultra super thing vs light).

Or that certain birth control could stop or worsen your period and that varied from woman to woman.

These men could have daughters who might need educated/help and the last thing they’d need is dad sat puzzled and embarrassed himself.

It’s a bodily function half of us have at some point in our life.

It's not very clear from your OP what the primary focus is. If it's say girls in Nepal or whatever then there doesn't seem to be much reason to exclude men. If it's 'how to put in a mooncup' then it's slightly different. Also there's a difference between a presentation-type event and a discussion. There would be something a bit odd about men discussing solutions but if it's just someone with a Powerpoint and a few questions at the end I don't see the issue.

Some of those subjects seem like they'd be suitable for men to hear about, eg. period poverty. More men should be aware of this. But do men really need to be involved in a conversation about dealing with periods at work?

Will many (any) men go though? I would assume they have it open to everyone so they don't get accused of being "transphobic" if they specified it was a women's event.