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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or is this PE teacher unreasonable about periods

706 replies

BigSandyBalls2015 · 26/01/2017 21:32

DD(15) is doing GCSE PE. Part of this involves 'personal survival' which takes place in local swimming pool.

The school obv need to book this, can't just turn up, but DD queried what would happen if some of the girls had their period at the time. PE teacher (female) replied that they'd obviously have to use a tampon, they can't miss it, can't arrange another day. A few girls told her they didn't use/get on with tampons and she got annoyed saying they'd have to get on with it on the day as no other option.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 27/01/2017 08:55

I have an11 year old DD. When the time comes, too damn right I'm going to encourage her to get used to a tampon so that she can use one if she wants or needs to. Periods are shit enough as it is without having them stop you doing what you want, when you want.

Shadowboy · 27/01/2017 08:56

If it's for a practical for the CW element of the GCSE it's madness to rearrange and book a pool for each girl who can't make it due to a period. Imagine the cost and staffing issues.

Original poster
BigSandyBalls2015 · 27/01/2017 08:56

Wow lots of replies! Mixed views, I'll have a proper read.

OP posts:
bloodyteenagers · 27/01/2017 08:56

And what about females who cannot take medication because of other health restrictions?

So your son with his cold, would he have bleed in the water? No.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 08:56

Still it's nice to see people furthering the cause of equality by insisting that girls shove something inside them even if they don't want to...

SoupDragon · 27/01/2017 08:57

Sometimes periods DO interfere with stuff

Funnily enough, I've been having periods a very long time so I'm pretty good with how they work. Not easy periods either before you suggest that.

We have it a lot easier than our female ancestors.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 08:58

Encourage her to get used to them - fine

My mum could have encouraged me all she liked but it wasn't going to happen - I can't use them due to being raped and other issues

SoupDragon · 27/01/2017 08:59

It's nice to see people shrieking about how to not help and encourage girls deal with periods with minimal fuss and interference.

Anothermoomin · 27/01/2017 09:00

No one has said exactly how this could be dealt with. Two dates 10 days apart is in all probability impossible. You can't pick and choose dates at a local pool like that. It may well be unfair but until someone tells that teacher what the brilliant simple solution is their is no option.

She may well have had to ask for favours to get the time slot she did. Not only is no one saying well done we are lambasting her for not getting suitable alternative dates!

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:00

So am I - and there is nothing that it interferes with now because I have no need to wear a tampon as I don't swim etc. However if I had to wear one for an activity I wouldn't do the activity

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:01

So you don't agree that some people can't use internal sanpro?

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:02

It has also taken me many years to have a smear for the same reason. But perhaps I shouldn't have let if affect me?

Anothermoomin · 27/01/2017 09:04

Periods are crap they get in the way we all know that. It is nothing shameful it is inconvenient.
The point is the school can not meet everyone's needs. It just can't. We live in a society where we all expect to get what we want. Schools are facing substantial cuts and can not accommodate the needs of all students even if they wanted to.

MontePulciana · 27/01/2017 09:07

Because to get equality truly we have to be equal and not use being a female as an excuse for everything. I come from a previously very female dominated line of work and know for a fact this is changing as management/HR are realising hiring females of child bearing age is too bloody expensive. They are proactively hiring men now because they know they won't need time off for maternity/fertility treatments/periods/etc. And it's working. My old male colleagues used to complain to management about how it was unfair that women could apply for time off based on their gender. So policies were changed. Makes my blood boil too. I worked for an airline. We were seen as parasites for going on maternity leave. I've left now.

slummamumma · 27/01/2017 09:09

livia you have my hugest sympathies and well done for braving up for a smear test. You are absolutely right for this reason and many others, some girls/women cannot use internal protection. They should also not have to disclose why it should be accepted.

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2017 09:11

Suggesting young girls take medication just to suit a fucking teacher is ridiculous.

Periods are normal and fir most people are annoying and inconvenient bit normal. Surely these medications are to help Control or regulate periods for the people who have problems with heavy flow, pain.etc. they are not there for the convenience of pe teachers ffs

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:12

being a woman stops me from putting things up my vadge - that is it. I don't have time off for periods, I have always made it clear to potential employers that I will not be needing maternity leave etc so it's not people like me who cause policies to change.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:13

Thank you Flowers It took 20 years - I tried a couple of times before that but they couldn't do it due to how hysterical I got!

jojo2916 · 27/01/2017 09:26

Totally agree with little drummer girl get used to it or for next 30 years almost one quarter of your time will be spent effective 'ill' or having to sit out of stuff

CripsSandwiches · 27/01/2017 09:31

I think that accommodations should be made if possible for the tiny minority of girls that have a genuine problem with tampons. On the other hand the majority of girls should be able to get used to wearing tampons on the odd occasion its needed. Otherwise it just becomes impossible to arrange any swimming activity for girls because a quarter of them will be out of action at any one time.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:33

would everyone else's life grind to a halt without their mooncup/tampons then? How odd. I don't let my period rule my life and i don't have to use internal sanpro for that to be the case Confused

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/01/2017 09:35

As women, why does not being able to go swimming for a few days a month equate to such a huge issue? Presumably if you swim for leisure/competition you would use internal sanpro and if you couldn't then you would do another activity?

mycatwantstokillme1 · 27/01/2017 09:37

soupdragon what I suggest is not encouraging girls/women to go on the pill or use tampons if they are concerned about the health risk. You['re suggesting unless we do either of them, periods will get in the way of everything. No, I'm saying in the instance the OP is describing, the girls should be able to do the practical when they're not on their perios if they can't use a tampon/mooncup. Im not shrieking. But I am pissed off that other women are shrieking that we should just get on with it, put chemicals in our body to stop our periods so they don't interfere with anyone else.

Livia - hugs, I know how you feel x

GlacindaTheTroll · 27/01/2017 09:37

Actually, AnneOfCleavage yes, I have as I have a very sporty DD who is quite likely to choose to do PE GCSE.

She won't have to decide for sure until towards the end of year 9, when most pupils will be 14, and then will have nearly two years of regular participation in the sports she chooses before assessments. Those who train in swimming have to learn to deal with their periods because they go to the swimming club which has early sessions I think twice a week (and remember this is only a subset of those who do PE GCSE anyhow, and is a free choice which can be changed)

specialsubject · 27/01/2017 09:41

They either wear internal protection or they miss the session. Problem is that there will be some who lie about having periods because they don't want to smudge their slap in the pool, but that is their problem.

Hopefully science is compulsory though, so they don't grow up ignorant about gravity.