To say 'flowing free' isn't a feminist issue, it's a hygiene one?

[daydrinker]

I have attached screen shots of the conversation from one of my breastfeeding Facebook groups.

The genera opinion seems to be that periods are beautiful and not uncomfortable or gross at all.

Just like any other bodily fluid, I don't think it's nice.

AIBU to say it's a hygiene issue and not a feminist one?

That breastfeeding group sounds like very hard work. Do yourself a favour and leave

Breastfeeding isn't beautiful. It's uncomfortable and difficult (in my experience) and something suffered because we think there are health benefits for both people involved.

Pee, poo, puke, cum, breastmilk etc - they should all be contained or discretely disposed of

We don't think there are health benefits involved, we know there are.

I don't think breastmilk should be contained and discreetly disposed of on the same level as poo, pee and cum. That seems an odd thing to say, unless of course you feel the same about all over milks

I don’t think not shaving your armpits is in any way compareable. For reasons that nobody wants to go into it is arguably a very feminist thing to not shave.

Totally different thinking that it is a feminist issue to just let bodily fluids flow wherever. That’s more of a public health issue than a feminist one surely?

Meh, I shave everyday but I don't give two hoots if someone else does or not. It isn't unhygienic not to and has nothing to do with me, doesn't impart me in the slightest!

Yes to considering departing from the BF group. The selfie pictures of BF 5+ year olds and slagging off formula mums is started to grate me and I'm the only one in the group who seems to bite back at the comments

free pads, tampons or moon cups would be more of a campaign to get behind than the illusion of liberation of walking around with soggy knickers and clots splatting onto any surface you pass.
Oh the clots.
I did have a warm and fuzzy period once...the week I thought I was pregnant, was in bits and the bugger turned up a day or so late. I fully embraced my period and skipped about in a merry haze of relief.

Blood is a biohazard. That doesn’t make it disgusting. Just a fact. I wouldn’t be free flowing. Rather free blobbing clots everywhere. Idiots, who spout crap like this probably only bleed the mythical one tsp a month. Or perhaps have an iud.

Is it wrong of me to think breast feeding a 6 year old is not really all the useful in terms of benefits to the kids development/nutriotion etc.? Is it just being a bit Extra?
I think breastfeeding is wonderful and so on. It didn't work out for me but I know a quite full on BFer who not only thinks free flowing is quite a good idea despite the practical draw backs. She gets sniffy at the suggestion that not everyone appreciates the leavings She thinks it is oppression.
I dunno..takes all sorts.

Well she's " free flowing" for the wrong reasons. Tampons and pads are their for our own comfort and hygiene not because periods are seen as disgusting or something to be hidden. She is lucky that she have the option of sanitary protection as many living in poverty don't.

Breastfeeding a 6 year old and free flowing is all just part of her desperation to be an earth mother hippy, bless her. That said, I can see how you can end up feeding until nearly that long (maybe 5) if the child wants it. You’d probably only be doing it a few times a week.

Caitlin Moran made the interesting point that she has seen gallons of blood spilt at the movies but never a drop of menstrual blood in a film because people would find it too gross.

I'm surprised she wrote this. Carrie, Mad Man, The Blue Lagoon… there are loads of other examples.

Mad Men not Mad Man!

The world has truly gone mad. Freeflowing!!??????? I take it next they will be claiming the right to take a dump in the middle of the office because is such a natural, life affirming act.
It's offensive and dangerous and disgusting and "Not In My Name" yuk.
Tampons all the way thanks.
Now I feel like a need a long shower 🤢

Free Bleeding was a joke on 4Chan. And that post reads like it was written by a man.

"We don't think there are health benefits involved, we know there are."

Didn't a recent study show the benefits are much more short-lived than previously thought? So, beneficial but not as much as we used to think.

"all over milks"

I assume you mean milk from different animals. Maybe it's more the method of drinking. I don't want to see anyone sucking a cow for warm milk.

I don't like big displays of breast feeding. I don't think it should be hidden but I don't like those strange demonstrations where a load of women feed their children in a cafe to prove a point.

Natural doesn't mean nice.

Agree upstart

It's a parody, but people fall for it over and over again.

Oh dear this group sounds very hard work! I would find another one.

Caitlin Moran made the interesting point that she has seen gallons of blood spilt at the movies but never a drop of menstrual blood in a film because people would find it too gross.

It’s an interesting point. Realistically it is much more likely to be because spitting blood from fights, accidents, injury etc is going to be part of storylines far more frequently than ‘woman leaks through san pro’.

Caitlin Moran is an idiot, to be honest.

I wouldn’t want to be in contact with milk unpasteurised or otherwise from a human, cow, goat or any mammal.

Other people’s bodily fluids should not free flow over anything that random strangers come into contact with. While breast milk isn’t as grim as shit for example, it is not some holy precious substance to a stranger. It’s just some body fluid from someone. Nobody wants to sit on it.

Yes what about Carrie? There was plenty of menstrual blood in that film.....
The thing about CM is that she makes sweeping statements to back up whatever she is on about, with scant regard for fact.

I don't think it should be hidden but I don't like those strange demonstrations where a load of women feed their children in a cafe to prove a point

I've never, ever seen this. I have seen groups of new mums getting together for a meal somewhere and several of them might be breastfeeding at once.

However, if I heard of a woman being victimised for feeding her baby, I would most definitely go to that cafe with a load of other women and feed, to prove a point. Anyone who didn't like that would be free to ask themselves what on earth they were so afraid of.

I have washable pads with owls on them. I am EXTREMELY disappointed they weren’t made by Tibetan monks and I’m going to write a letter of complaint to the company straight away.

Long story short, no, free flow is absolutely nothing to do with feminism and is the EXACT reason feminism gets so much backlash. Because people believe that shit.

Are you kidding, SouthernNights?

Women feed their babies because they’re hungry and that can be very frequently and inconveniently - the joy of breastfeeding is that you can feed your baby easily anywhere.

‘Nice’ doesn’t come into it - what a nasty attitude you seem to have.

The menstrual episode in Mad Men was magnificently done, actually, now that I think about it.

As pp have said at least she has the choice, so many young girls and women miss out on education at school, every month due to the lack of sanitary wear. I remember this discomfort of starting a couple of days early , and having to nip home from school to get towels. I think 95% Of women don’t want to leave a snail trail, or heavier behind them !