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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Running a marathon without a tampon. Does it 'break the stigma of periods'?

328 replies

ArmySal · 09/08/2015 10:25

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/kiran-gandhi-ran-the-london-marathon-without-a-tampon-in-a-bid-to-break-the-stigma-surrounding-womens-periods/story-fni0cx12-1227475480183?

When I first read the story I was open mouthed through revulsion, to be honest, but after reading the story I understand (to a degree) the point she was making.

AIBU to think 'fair play' to her? As said in the article, it highlights the fact some women don't have access to sanitary products, something I hadn't really thought about before.

OP posts:
Moreshabbythanchic · 09/08/2015 10:29

I think there are better ways of proving a point. I certainly wouldn't want to be treading in someone else's blood and having to clean it off my shoes. I just think its irresponsible and dirty.

turningvioletviolet · 09/08/2015 10:29

I would have thought it would make running terribly uncomfortable tbh. Dried blood rubbing on my thighs? No thanks.

Sparklingbrook · 09/08/2015 10:31

Strange.

GarminGirl · 09/08/2015 10:31

Runners don't care about this stuff

I ran the same marathon as her, bet hardly anyone noticed

Lilicat1013 · 09/08/2015 10:32

I think it makes the point and draws attention to the situation very effectively. I can't imagine how hard that must have been to do, running a marathon is an immense physical challenge on its own without this additional complication. As well as the discomfort it must have been so embarrassing.

I think it was brave of her to do this and I admire her. I hope it helps so more can be done for women who don't have access to sanitary protection.

Passmethecrisps · 09/08/2015 10:33

Weird - I read elsewhere that it wasn't planned as her period came on the night before and she wanted to avoid chaffing with a sanitary towel.

It seems like she has developed the story now to be about raising awareness which it does in a way.

It doesn't look like it was dripping anywhere other than her crotch.

BlueMoonRising · 09/08/2015 10:34

Moreshabby, how much do you think she will bleed in 4.5 hours???

FabULouse · 09/08/2015 10:35

This reply has been deleted

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Passmethecrisps · 09/08/2015 10:35

And the point about other runners is a good one. After running a marathon some will vomit, pee or even crap themselves due to the sheer physical impact and those bloody gel things. I imagine some women will come on unexpectedly as well

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 09/08/2015 10:36

Sigh when will people stop being "open mouthed with revulsion" over a bit of blood? Marathon runners sweat, spit, piss and shit themselves all the time while running. This is hardly any different.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 09/08/2015 10:37

Oh yes and vomit, I forgot the vomit.

noeffingidea · 09/08/2015 10:37

Runners don't care, in fact she probably wasn't the only woman in this situation, though she probably was the only one who did it deliberately.
I don't think it would really make a point ,tbh. Most people would just be repulsed.

DurhamDurham · 09/08/2015 10:38

I don't think it's achieved anything apart from people thinking it's slightly weird to not use sanitary towels or tampons when she has access to them. If we all did this we would be walking around the office/shops/schools/factories and it would hardly be a step forward would it? It's a bodily function, nothing to be ashamed of but why would other people want/need to know you are on your period?

HowDdo2You · 09/08/2015 10:39

Interesting way of raising period awareness.

Original poster
ArmySal · 09/08/2015 10:40

I meant open mouthed with revulsion at the thought of running a marathon without a tampon in, Pourquoi. Or even the thought of not wearing one.
I'm a nurse, blood, vomit, sweat, spit, piss & shit don't phase me.
I also have periods myself.

OP posts:
Moreshabbythanchic · 09/08/2015 10:42

Just going by my own experiences of periods long gone, thank goodness but I would have been pouring with blood. But well done for her running a marathon, I wouldn't have been able to run a hundred yards without collapsing if I was on my period.

Years and years ago, before sanitary towels and tampons were available women used washable rags, don't tell me that any woman these days are not able to do this, not ideal I know but surely better than nothing.

Peshwari · 09/08/2015 10:44

Moreshabby, how much do you think she will bleed in 4.5 hours???

Well, most people only have their own experience to compare it to.

putputput · 09/08/2015 10:45

That just looks unnecessarily uncomfortable. The chaffing she must have experienced.
I doubt many people would have noticed, I ran this years London and I think if I had seen her I would have just cringed at the pain her inner thighs would have been in tomorrow!

FayKorgasm · 09/08/2015 10:45

Unless she suffers a very heavy flow no one would be affected by the blood. Women all over the world are prevented from accessing sanitary products,nothing taboo about that. Fair play to her.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 09/08/2015 10:46

I still don't understand the revulsion though. It's still just blood. Periods aren't shameful. All women have them but they are so often treated like a dirty secret thing that should be hidden away.

TheHormonalHooker · 09/08/2015 10:47

stigma
?st??m?/
noun
1.
a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

I don't feel any disgrace associated with having my period.

I don't understand why she's done it. I don't see any need to have done it. She has access to sanitary protection so why not use it?

What next, everyone start shitting in the street to highlight the fact that there are people in the world that don't have toilets?

Ubik1 · 09/08/2015 10:47

Christ it's a period not the Delaration of Human Rights.

Why does everyone suddenly have to embrace periods? It's a bodily function. Why do people have to have an opinion on it?

What a load of pretentious nonsense.

EBearhug · 09/08/2015 10:47

I guess if your flow is light, it might not feel any worse than sweating, and it would mostly be absorbed by clothing. But I would find it very uncomfortable on my heavier days. I don't care what other people think so much, but I do care about how I feel and I'd rather feel comfortable than not, and having blood running down my leg is not a comfortable feel, though I suppose that's partly learnt from knowing the social stigma, but some of it is just physical. Still, I guess she knows her own body well enough to know it would be okay for herself, whether making a point about other women's lack of sanitary protection or not.

pinkchoctruffle · 09/08/2015 10:48

Agree with pourquoi

FayKorgasm · 09/08/2015 10:51

In places where access to water is limited I would imagine washing rags would be low on the priority list.