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.

I am not uncomfortable with my body either, i just like to be private. My period is my own business.

Plus I don't want my 'awareness raised' particularly.

My first thought was "is this the right way to raise awareness" but I've seen this story being talked about for a third time now so i guess the answer is yes!

My second thought is "lucky her if that's all she bled". I have to wear a tampon and sanitary towel at same time and change them every hour, with two night pads on while I sleep and alarms set to change them. I still leak even then. I once read one period we bleed enough to fill an egg cup. My fucking arse do we!!

FWIW I also think we should talk about it more openly as a society but that doesn't and won't change the fact that it's blood and makes people feel sick/uncomfortable etc, it being menstrual blood doesn't make it more tolerable for those who are uneasy about blood in general

Sorry Arranie that was poorly juxtaposed I didn't mean to imply that you personally were uncomfortable with it. I have spoken with women who were/are uncomfortable with their own anatomy, menstruation, believe it makes them dirty, etc, and that's concerning to me.

Not sure what to say to someone who doesn't want their awareness raised.... I guess don't read about the issue then? Shitty things don't get better in the world by ignoring them though.

Should have said "feel sick/u comfortable to see it"

But talking about it doesn't mean it's doing the job of 'raising awareness'. Some of us in the thread are . If someone told me about it in RL I would still be .

I am obviously not her target but not sure who is.

*uncomfortable

FFS!

I don't understand it.

Pee/poo during a race / gradual leakage of pee etc are normal bodily functions that cannot be helped. Protection against period leakage can be helped, and easily.

I get that more people are talking about the fact that many women worldwide have no access to sanitary protection, however surely if this was the actual aim, it would have been more worthwhile to raise money for charities related?

I think she just forgot and is trying to not just look grim ion her photos by claiming its deliberate.

Honestly-I think this is silly. Everyone knows that we all go for a poo, vomit at times and that women have periods from their teens into their 50s.
None of these things are "stigmatising" because we are all the same. Its just that these things are normally private. Its unpleasant for women who don't have access to sanitary protection if they want it.
She may have thought that she would be uncomfortable with a tampon starting to fall out before the end of the race but a thin pad like an always night-time surely would have been more comfortable than blood running down her legs. If she thought she would be better off not wearing protection why the necessity to make an announcement about it.
I wasn't aware that anyone was unaware that women have periods.

That must have been sore and looks terrible. Surely a tampon with a change half way round would be more comfortable. Appreciate a towel no good.

There's a diference between a voluntary choice to view periods as private and being forced to never speak of them because they are seen as disgusting/taboo/whatever.

Caitlin Moran wrote an interesting article on this subject not that long ago - about how it was still pretty much a taboo subject. And it's true - other bodily functions - urine and defacation - are much more acceptable to talk about or make jokes about. Most people would still regard their own toilet visits as private (!!) but they aren't such taboo subjects.

I remember when very young being embarrased about buying tampons. I never felt that way about toilet paper!

I think a value of this woman doing what she did is that there a pictures of it out there and discussion. It means that this is a step towards normalising menstruation and putting it on a level with other bodily functions. It also means that little girls who live in fear of springing a leak can see what actually happens and that someone can do this publicly and survive.

It's not an action that is going to win a noble peace prize for sure and it's a bit eccentric. But I do think it has some a value - however small.

Not the article I was referring to but similar and interesting nevertheless.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/we-need-to-talk-about-periods-9638267.html

I don't think it's that much of a taboo subject, tbh. More like the main or only topic of conversation in 12-13 year old girls, then you learn to manage them and find something more interesting to talk about. Periods are shit, it's fucking unfair that we have them and men don't. But we already understand, and they never really will, so what's the point?

its not raising awareness its just repulsive .you dont have to pull out of race just use .tampax/ sanitary towel she achieved nothing .just disgusting and to be proud of it really

I don't really see what this has achieved tbh. Women have periods. Everyone knows it and it's not a big deal is it? Is there really a stigma about a normal bodily function? Seems a bit daft to me.

I just read it and thought it might 'raise awareness' but it might also make some people think 'right on' attention seeking exhibitionism and a desire to 'shock'. I wasnt shocked I just thought how uncomfortable. I am sure there are myriad better ways to campaign about it.

Confidence of youth: you value 'shock' value, want instant results and dont get that it can backfire.

Its actually a pretty stupid thing to do because dried blood could cause really bad chafing.

I think this woman forgot it is 2015. There is no stigma attached to periods, apart from in her head.

If she wanted to run the marathon without sanpro, up to her, but she should have worn black trousers instead of red ones. That dark stain will be tough to get out of those bright red trousers. Also, blood dripping and drying will chafe. Plus she probably stank of dried blood, wouldn't have liked to run downwind from her.

Aside from all this, I think she actually broke sports etiquette/rules pretty badly. Where blood is present, players are sent off and can only come on once the blood is plastered/covered. Blood covered clothing is certainly not allowed in my sport.

My kids (boy/girl) knew about periods from when they were toddlers. There is absolutely no stigma attached to them and I think this woman did something completely weird for no reason.

There is absolutely no stigma attached to them

Really? What world do you live in? Stigma may be the wrong word; taboo may be better. Seriously read the article I linked above.

Kat Lazo, who runs TheeKatsMeoww You Tube channel, also speaks about the portrayal of periods in the media, arguing that men make jokes on film and TV about something that they don’t experience, “and that’s why they’re so inaccurate,” she says.

“Majority of media are made by men,” she tells me, “and like most things, men are misrepresenting periods. Men are writing about and depicting periods from a third-person point of view; an uneducated one at that. Periods are either a comedic punchline or a horror show. Theres a huge stigma associated with periods, and men are only perpetuating it.”

She cites Movie 43 and Superbad, where a girl starts bleeding and the boys see it and freak out, as just two examples of a girl being the butt of the joke.

No, it just ruins your clothes.

Sounds like she needs to invest in a mooncup.

It's a bit nasty... but hey good for her if she is happy she did it then fine.

also people are so overplaying the shit at the end of marathons, in 6 years of marathon/long distance running to excess inc BIG marathons and London three times I've never run through human shit, and I've seen a grand total of one person with shit on their legs.

aprilanne you referring to this as repulsive and disgusting just kinda proves the point that this is a conversation worth having in my view.

I wish I lived in the world that some people say they do where there is no stigma around menstruatuon! I suspect it may also be the world where feminism isn't needed any more because we're 'already equal' though

I always find it interesting that menstrual blood is elevated above all the other bodily wastes on MN.

To me it's no different to snot, shit or piss.

Not the end of the world, not really conversation worthy either.......