To not get the attitude to periods

[mytartanscarf]

Some people seem to think there really is something horrible about them. People always urge sanitary protection to be given in food bank parcels. Someone leaving a sanitary towel out is treated with horror.

I don't get it. I've occasionally found myself in a position where I don't have sanitary towels in. I don't think a used sanitary towel is necessarily any worse than anything used for bodily fluids! I think there are more prevalent things on the minds of homeless women than periods.

Aibu? Not being an arse: I don't get it!

I don't have a 'proper' loo here

In that case wouldn't reusable towels be better? The kind you can wash.

I did start a thread earlier this week asking what a "normal" period is. there were lots of different answers. I think it is in AIBU.

I am definitely female!

How is this for a heavy example Tawdry? :o

I keep thinking that pipbin; I probably will look into that. Do you order them online?

In that case wouldn't reusable towels be better? The kind you can wash

Why?

I think pipbin means because I am limited on space, disorganised and find it difficult to dispose of waste :)

Merry pretty bang on I'd say!

Good point Toy. I was forgetting that most people, myself included, don't flush sanpro.

I never EVER thought I would say this but...have you considered a mooncup?!

Hahaha Tawdry.

That's what happens when you whip out your tampon in a rush... After spray.

I'm not anti moon cups per se but I hate the thought of 'internal' protection - including tampons. I have a small vagina (as confirmed by a doctor!) and find erm, things, up there uncomfortable!

Very very strange question ...... but if you're working on the lines that lack of sanitary protection is no worse than not having soap, well ..... I very much doubt most women would want to go without either, but if I was - hypothetically speaking - given the choice of one or the other, then I'd choose sanitary protection. Because like it or not I think other people would be less 'offended' by B.O. than by me gushing/dripping blood all over the place ....... someone who smells might be unpleasant to be in the vicinity of, but they don't actually leave something behind them do they ? Whereas depositing a pool of blood on the train seat, on the chairs at work, splattered over the floor in the supermarket and so on really isn't very pleasant at all is it - just as, as an adult spreading various bodily fluids about in places they're not intended to be (such as peeing in shop doorways, throwing up in a taxi), is generally considered to be pretty gross, irresponsible and thoughtless (towards others who have to clean up after you).

Generally speaking unless someone is very ill and genuinely incapacitated, most adults choose to control their bodily fluids. Those who don't are usually drunk or drugged. So is it really so damn hard to imagine how utterly mortifying it must be if you're a woman who lacks access to adequate sanitary protection who then leaks - and who, to all intents and purposes would appear to have no control over her period ? Yes, periods are natural blah blah blah and no-one should feel ashamed for having them and yes, there's still an element of taboo surrounding them sorry to say - but that sort of stone age attitude is an entirely different issue to that of women being able to go about their normal business while feeling as safe, secure and comfortable as they possibly can whilst having their period.

If you're already in the position of having to use food banks at all you'll pretty much be at rock bottom - so to also have to bear the indignity, the physical discomfort, the potential mortification which comes from have too little or no protection at all on top of all the crap you're already dealing with is just awful - the vast majority of women would feel completely demoralised in that position.

So of course it's bloody important - I can't fathom how anyone would think otherwise.

Destroys tape measure with vaginal teeth

It's only what the doctor said when I was having a smear!

Sorry Tartan, I'm just indulging in a bit of daftness!

Omg bloodygorgeous what did you do?

I suppose you don't get many people openly admitting to having 'a really fucking big vagina' do you. Can't imagine why!

And this is a stupid thread and if you're as dense as you're making out OP I'll eat your hat. Which is probably also quite dense.

cats you are absolutely right and I think you explained it well. Thank you.

Tomorrow when I buy my own towels I will buy another pack and put it in the food bank trolley at tesco as I've said.

There's a petition floating about at the minute related to VAT on sanitary products

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/62628

As for the question asked, I know you've already had it answered OP but just wanted to say that it's not only grown women who have periods, young girls do too. I imagine school to be hard enough when you don't have the right equipment, the "right" shoes/bag/coat and your uniform is slightly smelly and/or dirty because it can't be washed often enough. I imagine that it would be a million times worse if you then bled all over the bottom half of it once a month. Teens are self - conscious enough as it is, I was mortified when I first started having periods, didn't want them, couldn't stand the hassle or the messing on with towels and tampons, but at least I had access to them and could get them without even saying I was on my period because my mum kept the bathroom cupboard stocked.

Gosh far - I don't expect anyone to talk about their vaginas: the size of mine only came up in context as it were