to have my tampons on display?

[ElleGrace]

Hi there,
This is actually my first post on here (despite me being an avid mumsnetter for the past 5+ years!) so bare with!
Basically, OH and I have recently moved in to a new place together and are having a ridiculous rather silly debate over whether or not it is socially acceptable to have (unused) tampons on display in the bathroom.
To my way of thinking, anyone who enters our home will be perfectly aware that I, a woman, have a menstrual cycle and therefore use some form of feminine product in my bathroom. The only hidden storage we have in the bathroom is on the opposite side of the room to the toilet, which is an inconvenience to get to. Therefore, I have a glass jar of tampons on the shelf right next to the toilet, alongside many other glass jars filled with cotton buds, cotton pads, candles etc. IMO, there is no difference in seeing a tampon in the bathroom than seeing something like a cotton bud.
On the other hand, my OH argues that although people are aware I use tampons, they don't really need to see proof of it. He compared it to having a jar of condoms in the bathroom.
I understand this is a really ridiculous argument, but it really got me thinking as to whether I should really have to hide my feminine products in my own home, or as to whether I'm simply being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn.
I'd love to hear your opinions on this trivial matter, and I'd also like to know whether your products are hidden from view too.

But accurate.

You're of my mother's generation propel, you'd get on very well with her.

cailanda- I also have teenagers, I get on very well with them and their friends. Do you have many teenagers in your life?

I'm going to be 52 in two weeks' time. I consider myself slightly younger than the generation of splendid feminists who took pictures of their cervixes and ran the photospreads in Spare Rib for impressionable and impressed young wimmin like me to read. I've lived through the decades of menstrual sponges and Greenham. Don't tell me it's a generational thing.

And no, it is not accurate to call my house a 'grotty student flat' just because there is some washing on clothes racks in the kitchen.

I have no idea why you're asking that propel but yes I do know some teenagers.

cailindana I am responding to your suggestion that I would get on with your mother as I am of "that generation"-- implying what I don't know.

A passive agressive comment? I am not sure-it's hard to tell on a written forum.

No, it's not that you don't seem to know things or that you don't hang out enough with teenagers, it's just that that purse-lipped thing seems generational to me. Possibly an ageist assumption on my part, maybe younger people are just as judgemental.

I don't have any cupboards in my bathrooms only open shelves. My tampons are there for all to see along with all our other products. I haven't used them for nearly 7 months because I've been using mooncup. DD prefers to keep her sanitary towels in her bedroom.

Ha ha that's so funny. Purse lipped- if you knew me and my life you would see how rediculous that is.

Your assumptions say far more about you that they do of me.

What the fuck this thread?!

It's rediculous is it?

Tampons are an extremely intimate part of a woman's 'routine' & should not be on show. It's crass & embarrassing.
Oh cringe - are you my "(Don't mention menstruation) Mum"? I didn't know she could use the interweb-thingy.

Before this thread I didn't realise it was common to have 'sanpro' on display!

I don't even know if my DM used tampons/towels or which brand as I never saw any in our house ever.

I've never noticed any in any homes I've visited either.

Before I switched to the mooncup I kept mine in a opaque make up bag in the bathroom.

I really don't think I'd be comfortable having them on display. But I can see how daft that is when we all have toilet roll on display!

I remember having a conversation with my mum about this ages 14. There was an airing cupboard in the bathroom where all the sanitary protection was kept and one day I pointed out to my mum it would make more sense to keep it in a drawer that was in a unit right next to the toilet. She was horrified,incase someone went riffling through the drawer and seen them. My point that people shouldnt be riffling through the drawer wasnt well recieved.

FWIW I keep mine in packets on a shelf,in full display on everyone.

My mother used to leave used sanitary towels lying around the bathroom, ( semi- deliberately, she considerd it part of our "education)
I was always disgusted, and would always have to check the toilet before I could let friends use it.

BeCool - no I'm not your mum - not that this has anything to do with age.
I'm sorry, but I'll just have to say it.
Having tampons on show is a bit common & I'd judge the person as lacking in sophistication & not really clued up on how to behave.
I'd never though about this subject before but that's my opinion.

LikeIcan. Please give us a list of things you believe to be common. Then I can adjust my behaviour accordingly...

"Having tampons on show is a bit common & I'd judge the person as lacking in sophistication & not really clued up on how to behave."

You sound very lower middle class. Don't worry: I am, too. Just off to knit a toilet cosy.

Waiting to hear from our latter day Nancy Mitford. Or perhaps you are Nicky Haslam.

"Waiting to hear from our latter day Nancy Mitford"

You called?

So is anything kept private?

If incontinence pads and tampons are fine what about vibrators, pessaries for thrush, cock rings, herpes cream, butt plugs, suppositories for piles, facial hair removing cream, spare false teeth in a jar?

Is everything fine to have on display?