AIBU to think periods are normal? Disney take note!

[StripyHorse]

We've just returned from a few days in Disneyland Paris. Things were a bit manic before we went away so typically I forgot something - sanitary towels. I came on while I was there and ran out of the emergency supply I have in my rucksack and needed some more. Despite being a family resort with plenty of teenagers and women of childbearing age Disney seem to think periods are something to be ashamed of. There are no dispensers in the toilets and the shops there only stock Disney tat rather than any essential items. Instead you can only get them from the stroller hire place at the front of the park - cue a 20 minute wait in my case. I got to the front of the queue to be told they had run out -
in my limited French I managed to ask if they had any sanitary products because I needed them. Reluctantly the woman checked the stock and found some. When I finally did get some they were reminiscent of the maternity towels I used but needs must.

AIBU to think that Disney really could do better?

I’m not bothered about the DLP aspect, but I love the idea that everyone carries enough pads or tampons with them at all times that they will never run out. Even if you take a Transit-van-full, at some point you will use the last one.

I’ve been caught out so many times it’s now a family joke. I have “emergency supplies” stashed in odd places like under the car boot floor and in a drawer at my MILs. I am absolutely guaranteed to need them when all the shops are shut or we are miles from anywhere having had a drink. It’s Sod’s law.

We are half the population.
We have periods.
We deserve to have the products we need in the places that they would be most useful.
I find it hard to believe that we still accept our own 'organisation' is lacking if we expect this level of comfort and dignity and ease, and fail to get it.

They sell them in the shop in the TGV station too.

If OP had said she forgot toothpaste I expect many of the responses here would be different. Periods are literally like red rags to a bull.

I agree, there wouldn’t have been any of this “well you should be more organised like French women are” bullshit.

We deserve to have the products we need in the places that they would be most useful.

This 100%

Projecting much? They simply assume you will be more organised, like french women.

Oh God yeah, French women don't get fat, or ugly, or old, they never get make a fuss when their husband's have affair, they never wear comfortable clothing or let their children be naughty. And now they never forget to pack tampons.

ALL HAIL THE FRENCH WOMAN.

but I love the idea that everyone carries enough pads or tampons with them at all times that they will never run out. Even if you take a Transit-van-full, at some point you will use the last one

Nope. Just carry a sea sponge, it fits in the palm of your hand, so in any pocket.

They never let an extraneous apostrophe sneak into their writing.

Can we please remember, too, that periods vary. Some women have a light bleed for 2-3 days. Others are soaking a super-plus tampon and the heaviest towel every 40 minutes. If you've recently had surgery, a baby, or a miscarriage ( ) or if you're undergoing hormone treatment or peri-menopausal, bleeding can be erratic, irregular, and unpredictable.

Just because a piece of cotton wool works for an entire day for you does not mean other women do not need sanitary products provided in more places.

@DeleteOrDecay

No if she had forgot toothpaste we wouldn’t all me projecting that Disney doesn’t think teeth are normal and that they think cleaning teeth is something to be ashamed of.
If she had forgot toothpaste we would all expect her to have to walk a few minutes to find some and maybe remember to pack some next time.

Nope. Just carry a sea sponge, it fits in the palm of your hand, so in any pocket.

Yes because people casually walk around with sea sponges in their pocket

Why you shouldn't use a sea sponge:

"Sea sponges aren’t “like” bath sponges they ARE bath sponges. Some people promote them as “natural” alternatives to menstrual tampons, except they are untested and potentially very unsafe. Oh yeah, they are also filled with dirt.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, twelve “menstrual sponges” were tested at the University of Iowa in the 1980s and they and contained sand, grit, bacteria, and “various other materials.” Another batch was tested by the Baltimore district laboratory and in addition to the sand, grit and bacteria they also found yeast and mold. One sample contained Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria that causes toxic shock syndrome). As the FDA notes there is least one case of toxic shock syndrome associated with the sea sponge and another possible one."

drjengunter.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/glamour-gives-risky-period-advice-recommends-dangerous-sea-sponges/

Yes because people casually walk around with sea sponges in their pocket

Yes, we do. You understand that a sea sponge is a reusable sanitary product and was in direct answer to a comment about women carrying around truckloads of san-pro?

Some people promote them as “natural” alternatives to menstrual tampons, except they are untested and potentially very unsafe. Oh yeah, they are also filled with dirt

Only when you don't source them and then sterilise them properly. Anything can be dangerous when not used correctly.

A spare mooncup would have been a more sensible suggestion than a sea sponge surely?

Oh I'm sorry, are we supposed to recommend things we don't use or like personally instead of the things we do? Didn't know that.
Sure, a mooncup then.

Sea sponge ffs

Not everyone can stuff a tampax or a bloody sea sponge up their chuff. Clearly the poster that wrote that comment doesn’t have heavy periods, flooding or blood clots.

Lol at the toothpaste analogy. Sincerely doubt op would state Disney thinks teeth are shameful.

Women have the right to access a range of sanitary protection with ease and with the dignity of personal choice.
We are not the problem because we fail to plan/carry our own products at all times/carry a sponge in our pocket etc etc etc
This is not a responsibility that should fall only to us, or be hidden or 'unsavoury' to think/discuss in mixed company, or to not be provided by companies, irrespective of size.

I don't think Disney think periods are something to be ashamed of- I'm sure I've picked up sanitary products in the Disney hotel shop. However I can understand your frustration OP. We just returned from Disneyworld and there were sanitary products in every restroom - sounds more organised than Paris. And to pps- I see sanitary products in most public toilets. My DC are always fiddling with the machines thinking they'll dispense treats!

"as pp said the hotel shops sell all sorts of stuff you may have forgotten'

This ^ is not my experience at all. The hotel shops seem to have lots of Disney tat, the odd flannel and that's it. We had to get the train to that nearby shopping place to get paracetamol. Maybe cool French women don't get headaches or period pains too as well as being organised

It would be a pain in the arse to be caught out at the far side of the park and have to trek back to the entrance and queue. All the toilets I saw had signs saying to go to the stroller hire to purchase instead of having dispensers.

I could see it having been a money saving thing before. They're doing it up everywhere at the minute, it used to be very shabby before it was taken back over by Disney and the toilets used to be filthy so maybe it'll change...

Women have the right to access a range of sanitary protection with ease and with the dignity of personal choice

Are you kidding? Women all over the world have no access to any kind of sanitary protection. Many don't even have toilets. Some are sent to unsafe separate dwellings during their periods, some are even accused of witchcraft and are murdered.

Are you seriously talking about middle class western women having a fundamental RIGHT TO TAMPAX in fucking DISNEYLAND?

Which is actually available anyway, OP had to queue for all of 15 minutes?

Peak entitlement.

Clearly the poster that wrote that comment doesn’t have heavy periods, flooding or blood clots

The poster who wrote that has all of those things which is why they can't use tampons or towels.

no messy, what I am talking about is ALL women EVERYWHERE who should be FUCKING RAGING that they don't have access.
It is entitlement, you're right - every woman on the face of the planet is entitled to it.

Well, clearly we shouldn't be aiming for the lowest possible standard messyjessy17

I don't see how not having dispenser machines in toilets in disneyland will improve lives elsewhere.