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.

Just look at Donald Trumps recent comments regarding a reporter who gave him a hard time, it says a lot about how some people view menstruation.

Just don't get the need to 'raise awareness' or discuss it publicly. It's a private thing & it happens to women. Get over it & stop showing off that you're a fertile, bleeding woman - no one really wants to know. Women have been coping with it in various ways for years. If you don't want periods, take the pill. Otherwise just get on with it.

I went swimming yesterday. I would not have done so without a tampon in place. If it's light flow it's probably possible, but not on the first couple of days (for me). But I've also spent my time as a lifeguard, and I wouldn't choose to have anyone bleeding into the water (nosebleed and banged head are probably more likely, though.)

Period blood is not much of an issue compared with diarrhoea down one's legs - I had been blissfully unaware that people would run through that. Periods at least are normal - diarrhoea isn't, even if it is common for marathon runners.

I think there are still some taboos around periods in this country. I can say, "just got to go to the loo," at work, even while holding a spare tampon. I think if I said, "I really need to change my tampon before I leak," most of my male colleagues would probably be shocked, even though nearly all are married with children, so should have some idea about menstruation. Some of that is normal, in that I don't need to know he needs a poo desperately, and in any case, we tend not to announce we're going to the loo, except in the context of, "can you spare me some time to go over this report now?" "yes, but only after I've been to the loo."

"I feel grateful that so many people get it. That’s the biggest thing. Men and women alike, they get it. People are remembering that women have this thing that they have to deal with every month, they act like they aren’t in pain when they are. That’s a big fking deal.

“If men had their period, because we are in a male-privileging society, rules would be written into the workplace, rules would be written into the social fabric that enable men to take a moment when they need to or enable people to talk about their periods openly.”

This is a really important point, we should be able to talk about it. I'm peri menopausal and my periods can be awful, I shouldn't be scared to leave the house sometimes as I am bleeding so heavily.

I don't want to talk about my periods openly though. Plus men don't have them so why the constant comparison?

MrsRossPoldark- have you read the website I linked to on what awareness is being raised about?

It is absolutely something that should be discussed publicly. Saying its "private" and pretending it doesn't happen is part of the problem. Real women are unable to manage their periods hygienically due to lack of access to sanitary protection. Real women are prevented from participating in society 25% of the time due to stigma around menstruation. Girls miss out on education. In some parts of the world women are shunned from the community during their periods. Hell, even in the UK I have had a male colleague explain he was unable to shake my hand as I was a woman and may be menstruating, and it would be "unclean". Unclean, just for having a normal biological function, which I may or may not have been experiencing at the time. And that was accepted as having to tolerate his cultural belief, rather than not discriminate against me for my sex. Sure, a minor issue compared to what happens in other parts of the world, but a symptom of the same problem.

That's what she was raising awareness of. She wasn't showing off. And she was in fact just getting on with menstruating and not letting it prevent her from doing what she wanted to do!

no stigma in the developed world, (apart from some of the sky-fairy lot who can safely be ignored) although clearly a bit of hair-flicking gone on in school as we still have those who don't get the concept of gravity and think water magically stops bleeding.

period? Internal protection or don't swim. End of.

as for the story; sounds like the wrong awareness has been raised. What is needed is help for women in the places where you can't get sanitary protection, and also education that it is a minor bodily function and makes you no less or more unclean than any other excretion.

but that education means getting rid of the r-word...

I think she's raising awareness of a really important issue. Lack of access to toilets and Sanpro is a massive equality issue in developing countries, with girls dropping out of school when their periods start or at least missing classes while they're menstruating - so missing about one week in four.

Well done to her for raising awareness

Ebearhug would you really want to say 'I'm just going to change my tampon'? I certainly wouldn't. I'm not ashamed, I just don't want other people knowing what's going on with my uterus.
That is why I feel lucky to have had adequate sanitary protection. Tbh, even in this country things were a lot more difficult in that respect. I started my periods 43 years ago and I didn't always have enough towels ,and going by what I've read on various forums including this one, that was quite common.It must be horrendous in some other parts of the world.

I can see how either tampons or towels would be problematic during a marathon, so she could have gone for thick pants and black leggings, but I don't see why menstrual blood is reviled by other women. It is part of the "women are dirty disgusting untrustworty creatures who bleed without dying" that is a hangover from primitive times, surely we have moved on from that? Leaving aside her reasons for making a statement, had i seen her, I would have assumed she'd got her period while running, and thought good on her for finishing the race.
Oh and can anyone explain the diarrhoea?

r-word?

I don't really want to derail the thread but I wouldn't agree there's no stigma in the developed world apart from religious beliefs; I'm sure we've all seen misogynistic memes shared on social media saying things like "I don't trust something that bleeds for 7 days and doesn't die", ascertains that a woman is being hysterical or unreasonable because of that time of the month etc - that happens and is not ok.

But specialsubject I agree the much more serious practical issues faced by women in the developing world are what need drawing attention to.

Are there any other organisations like www.femmeinternational.org/ that people know of?

If the ill informed and frankly stupid comments on this thread are anything to go by then we do need more awareness of the issues placed on women and girls because of menstruation. And better biology lessons.

I was caught out by an early period the night before a race recently. I was away from home and it caused me stress as I was running in a light coloured tutu / leotard. Fortunately my DM managed to find an old tampon from her HRT days. First time I'd worn one in years due to pregnancy / breastfeeding, and it was uncomfortable, I could feel it inside me. I've recently started using a mooncup, but my pelvic floor still isn't ready to wear it for distance running.

Periods do cause distress to women. There is a fear of leaking, especially when you're in situations that reduce control such as restricted access to toilets or environments such as hotels.

A large percentage of women will leak urine from the forces of running, especially those who have had children. The irony is that it is socially easier for men to relieve themselves in public places as it is quicker and needs less exposure of flesh, yet their urinary system is better designed for the forces of impact sports.

When I've run for a prolonged distance or at a fast pace, it will be later that I become aware of a gradual leakage, rather than a build up of sweat.

Sorry, I think its ridiculous. Women in some countries have no access to many things but tampons to run marathons in isn't one of the major ones. And in this country we do have access to tampons and running, so I think there should be an emphasis on what women can do, rather than obstacles that some women may face. I've never experienced difficulty with running and periods, many women don't. And why was she thinking of puling out the night before because her period came? Its a perfectly normal thing all women have to deal with when running, and I've never heard of a more serious runner than she pulling out.

How did women in Europe cope when there were no sanitary products? Rags? Leaves? When did the supposed stigma actually arise?

I just find it an utterly ridiculous thing to do. Someone like Paula Radcliffe, who actually overcomes a toilet issue in front of the world's cameras and doesn't use it as an excuse, has my respect.

I don't find it disgusting or dirty, just a little odd. I know this will sound curmudgeonly but I'm irritated by the constant need to "raise awareness" of things in a provocative way. If you want to raise awareness, just tell people about whatever it is. Or write something in the newspaper. Or create a website and stick it on Facebook. How exactly does running a marathon without sanitary protection "raise awareness" of the fact that some women have to do without?

yawn its 2015 there is no "stigma"

now if she was raising awareness of people who were too poor to afford sanpro i would have agreed with her

i hate the whole marathon vomit/blood/piss/shit thing ffs its just a race stop shitting and bleeding everywhere

How does it raise awareness?

Hmm, well we're all talking about it now aren't we

"Someone like Paula Radcliffe, who actually overcomes a toilet issue in front of the world's cameras and doesn't use it as an excuse, has my respect."

My mum was totally put off Paula Radcliffe after this wondering why she couldn't have used a toilet. If you want to be a champion you don't have time for loo breaks.

Chrissie Wellington Ironman legend writes in her autobiography about the etiquette of having a wee whilst in front of your competitors (not too close). She also talks about pooing in her shorts constantly mid race. I was amazed!

She will hardly have been the only woman there this happened to. But she toured with M.I.A., she an "artiste"...

The link PickaPengy posted about the 5 most disgusting marathon photos of all time, contains a link to a picture of Uta Pippig winning the London Marathon with very visible period blood at her crotch and running down her legs. And a big smile on her face. I think this was at least 20 years ago.

www.houstonpress.com/news/five-of-the-most-disgusting-marathon-pictures-ever-6721713

There is also a photo of a young, elite looking male runner with poo all round his legs, very visible. I'm not sure, but I think this may have been the US athlete who sustained lower back nerve damage, one of the effects of which is losing control of bladder function when stressed. He doesn't let it stop him running, and he is still elite, and hopes to come back stronger.

I find both of the above far more admirable than someone drawing attention to themselves simply because of something all women have to deal with. If anything, it makes it worse for us female runners. I can imagine some men, trying to be sympathetic, asking if periods don't cause a problem for me, when it never has been.

Didn't her first interview afterwards say that she hadn't been expecting her period and didn't want to stop, so decided to keep running?

It's interesting that four months later this hits the news again but this time she was raising awareness. I wonder if they decided that afterwards or if she forgot?

I'm not sure it was necessary, for me, I could say that I was going to change my tampon at work and no one would bat an eyelid. One of my colleagues asked our male boss if she could go home and work from the bath because she had bad period cramps. That said, I'm much less vocal about mine and wouldn't mention them, I'd just excuse myself to the toilet. Different strokes, I suppose.

Realistically no matter how much some women might want to have periods not be a thing we hide away etc, it's still not great to not use protection and go around with blood on your clothes.

I don't like talking about periods. Theyre private to me, and I don't want that to change. If my friends suddenly started wanting conversations about periods we'd be having coffee together less often.

It should be personal preference. If some of us do see it as a private thing that's not a bad thing.

I find both of the above far more admirable than someone drawing attention to themselves simply because of something all women have to deal with.

You dont think the fact that half the human race have to deal with this is enough reason to draw attention to it?

Even in the developed world, a lot of women have very painful and/or heavy periods that interefere with their lives, yet they are expected to just quietly deal with it. And those that do actually have a medical problem making periods worse are told it's 'normal' and fobbed off for ages. A consultnant gynae said to me, bemused, that he couldn't understand why I was worried about the effect on employment due to my period pain - he couldn't understand why being unable to move or think straight, shaky and vomiting every month might interfere with daily activities (and told me the pain was 'normal', nothing got diagnosed until later with a new gynae.) This is the 'normal' that women are supposed to put up with without complaining or needing a rest.

Arranie I don't think anyone is saying you HAVE to talk about your own periods- just that it shouldn't be a taboo subject for everyone. I do have a concern about why some women are uncomfortable about their own body, but that's another side-issue really. I have a massive objection to being told to get on with it and that we shouldn't discuss periods openly if we want to etc.

I'm not uncomfortable with my own body at all, I just see it as mine and private. Again personal preference.

It comes across to me as she's suddenly been thrust onto the spotlight because someone commented, and thought "oh heck, it sounds better if I said I did it to raise awareness Tha if I say I didn't want to wear one as I don't find them comfortable when running."