Today my teenage son has been invited to ...?

[Gawdblimeygovenor]

... to participate in an exciting piece of research into 'how periods affect learning' at school. He received a personal invite from the school in collaboration with a University carrying out research, because "all genders and gender identities are encouraged to take part!!" The research will include discussion groups at school.

I am curious and slightly befuddled. Is this an opportunity to collect research from boys on their experiences, or just an opportunity for them to sit in on discussions in order to provide future mansplaining opportunities? If the latter, will their presence inhibit genuine discussions from the girls?

What happens if only all boys turn up? Will their research grant be impacted?

Was their intention to simply include transboys who experience periods, alongside girls? If so, could they not have had a more targeted approach that didn't inhibit girls from attending by inviting all the boys in the year to sit in. I mean, presumably the research outcomes could be beneficial to girls?

The final cherry on the top of the cake is that the research will also inform the creation of a piece of artwork for the school!!

I'm going to have to contact the school to seek clarity aren't I?

Absolute shite. All this trans stuff is a fad needs to blow over like punk did in my day

Tbh, the overall impression that myself and other parents have is that this is some attempt to be inclusive to include transboys and girls without being sufficiently specific. The fact that we wre provided with the first names of those running it and that it culminates in a piece of artwork does not convince me that it's particularly scientific. It feels a bit 'undergrad' coursework to me. However, I do now have some more specific questions to raise with the school because so far none of the kids nor parents seem to understand the thought process behind it.

I just think that if they stuck to terms such as 'boys and girls' or mentioned the sexes of those who they wanted to recruit, given that it is study about matters of sexual biology, then some of the intent would at least be clearer. This is the problem in my view of using more fluid terms in specific situations like this.

Uh, you do realise that periods aren’t a taboo subject that we should shield the poor little boys from ever having to think about, right?

Of course boys should be included in research about how periods affect learning. Because actually it’s incredibly important that we understand what boys think about periods, mostly because they probably think a lot of totally wildly inaccurate things and we can’t affect change without understanding what it is we actually need to change. Those boys will grow up to be public servants and head teachers and we need to make sure they have appropriate understanding of how menstruation impacts life for women and girls.

I think you’re seeing a trans issue where there is none because you’re twitchy about it already.

Also, don’t equate having to do some public artwork with it being non-scientific. I’m a scientist and these sorts of things are usually requirements for receiving research funding. It’s about public engagement and citizen science. It’s hard to get funding if you don’t do those types of activities.

I am perhaps what might be described as the militant end of feminist and I would have had rage about anyone but girls being asked about how periods affect learning… until I had a teenage son myself and learned a whole new perspective. Him and his male friends would complain about girl’s body odour and generally being able to smell some girls in particular when they were menstruating. They did not want to sit near them or collaborate closely and they really could tell when! They struggled with girl’s emotions, they were baffled by their mood swings and again, this led to them not wanting to work with some of them on projects. There was definitely some inappropriate immaturity stemming from embarrassment, ignorance and boys just not understanding the horrors of being a teenage girl. Did it affect their education? Probably, anything that’s a distraction or disruption does. Thankfully, they’ve grown up to be considerate and wouldn’t blink an eye if needed to shop for sanitary products.

Does it not occur to anyone that boys themselves have a role to play in creating a suitable, supportive, environment for girls? And that they might actually have some ideas how they could help?