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

[ArmySal]

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.

as other posters have said - women before tampons and STs made use of anything they had to hand - how else do you all think women in the past coped.
I feel she is just after the publicity and 'not doing it for anyone else'

just my opinion of course.

I don't think there is a stigma about periods in this country now ,precisely because we do have access to adequate sanitary protection. It obviously is relevant in other parts of the world though.

is it important to be able to talk about menstrual cramps at the dinner or work or in the pub?

I really don't want to discuss my periods with anyone. Except maybe the GP.

Attention seeker

This is reasonably interesting from the POV that your body often shuts down non essential functions during the strain of a marathon to conserve energy (ie many are sick because they're digestion is halted) and reproductive functions are one of the first to shut down (hence many women's periods stop in training) I guess her period was well on its way when she ran and most of what came out was down to gravity but it still would've been shedding womb lining etc. interesting.

However, I don't think she did if to raise awareness

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.

It's not at all unknown to be running through other peoples diarrhea during the latter stages of a marathon, so anyone scared off by blood should find a new hobby really!

I don't get how it was raising awareness at the time - I'm sure no one noticed. If she wanted to raise awareness during the marathon she should have dressed as a giant tampon. Sounds to me like someone noticed a picture of her with blood on her inner thighs and queried it, and she retrospectively said she was 'raising awareness'.

That is one way to get your 15 minutes of fame. Don't think that it is in any way going to change anyone's opinions. My initial reaction is one of repulsion -no-one (liberal or not) wants to see another person's menstrual blood. Does she really feel that people seeing sweaty blood on her crotch is really going to remove any stigma? Pointless.

This does remind me of something I came across on the Internet where marathon runners have had some genuine mishaps (not for the weak stomached)
www.houstonpress.com/news/five-of-the-most-disgusting-marathon-pictures-ever-6721713

Good for her, this raises a lot of issues that need discussing. Under almost all the patriarchal religions women are seen as unclean when they are bleeding, it's a way of controlling women. She is bang on about how different periods would be treated if men had them.

Dd brownie's recently did a big fundraising to raise awareness about this, it's shocking to see how girls around the world are missing out on education because they haven't any sanpro.

It's not as if there was a river of blood washing all over the road! Paula Radcliff had to stop and relieve herself at the side of the road.
I think it's a good reminder that women have bodily functions and have to deal with periods as well when they compete in sports.

Who needs reminding though? I agree that if this was a decision she took to raise awareness a mooncup outfit would have been more obvious. And would have possibly been in the news on the day not months later.

I wouldn't expect someone to walk around with vomit, urine or poo on themselves or stained clothing so why should blood be different

Well this thread has been enlightening.

It's not unusual to step in human shit whilst running a marathon?? Who knew!!!

Interesting article

There is still so much stigma regarding periods in this country but in other country it dictates how women live their lives.

Agree purple

Did someone say blood doesn't come out in water? When I have baths it does.

OP YANBU to think "fair play" to her at all.

Lack of access to sanitary protection is a serious issue for many women across the globe, as is stigma around menstruation in general.

www.femmeinternational.org/ is an NGO I found when researching this issue, they highlight a lot of specific instances and provide education in places where this is a problem and reusable sanpro for women who don't have access. Wonderful things to do IMO

throughthick I think it depends on how hot the water is.

I've just started running, its put me right off aiming for marathon running with all that human waste to avoid by the sounds of it. Eugh.

Which way round noeffingidea? I guess if someone was swimming free of tampons in a swimming pool then cold water stops it? (I'd rather not swim through someones menstrual blood tbh)

Throughthick I've run 4 marathons and an ultra, and never run through anyone's shit or blood. The closest I've come is at the start of the GNR, where an awful lot of men piss all over the place. I didn't go and have a splash though Do not worry, do keep running!!

Yes I do think access to decent sanitary protection is an issue. I do wonder if this was really the best way to highlight the issue, but I guess that's her choice.

Throughthickandthin The hotter the water the heavier the flow. Taking a very hot bath is supposed to stop the flow for an hour or so afterwards, and supposedly a way of preparing for sex.
There probably will be a small amount of menstrual blood in a swimming pool along with other bodily fluids but it has to be kept within 'safe' levels.
My daughter has SNs (therefore no tampons) and does swimming with her school. They will take her if her flow is very light.
Realistically though, it's not really something you can prevent anyway. It's possible to come on at any time and we're not required to wear a tampon 'just in case'.

I do think she has a valid point. For many people having a period is something embarrassing better ignored. Even in more progressive societies getting medical help for period pain is often met with dismissal.

How she made her point was pretty disgusting though.

I think what she did is fab!

Just over half the population deals with periods. They are not always easy to manage. Often painful. Usually with other symptoms. I get migraines around my period and I cannot for the life of me do a think until it passes. even the pain killers leave me feeling woozy and off colour.

Raising awareness of the impact they have on our lives for the other 50% who really have no idea at all is a great thing. Every single one of us will have a story or a time where our periods halted our day to day lives.

For me I get the migraines and cramps that can be so bad the pain goes through my thighs and I cannot walk. We all know how hard it is to get time off work to manage it and I'm not saying everyone needs time off (you lucky buggers!) for a percentage of us open discussion like this, raising a little bit more awareness and understanding is a good thing.

To finish I am ridiculously open with my OH about periods, cramps, pain etc I even tweet about it to my (mostly) male followers and you know what, Some of them even respond because they didn't realise for some women it can be so tough. The only comparisons they have are their GFs and even then many women don't talk about it and hide it away like the 'curse' it has been labelled as :(

Disgust is a really strong word, I don't feel disgust when I see another woman's menstrual blood.