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?

"Won't be long before these mentally challenged females will be pissing and shitting 'freely' as well.

And not shaving under their arms etc.

Back to being cave women in no time."

I take it you're taking the piss and just pretending to be an idiot...

If she has a period, she can stay at home and flow free there, not all over buses, and public seats. If she allows herself to bleed outside the home, than it poses a health hazard to others. I don't think periods are dirty, but their certainly not beautiful when I am curled up on the sofa with a hotwater bottle in pain.

I have washable pads with owls on them.

Can I ask where you got them, @WhiteCoyote ? For various reasons I will never use a Mooncup but I'd like to reduce my plastic waste and washable pads would be good. I've tried them before but they don't absorb well and don't get clean. Are yours any good?

I fund raise to provide sanitary protection to girls in developing countries. This is like those who avoid vaccines - totally absurd spoiled brat attitude from someone who has no bloody idea how hard life is for the majority of people in the world.

I don't think periods are disgusting at all. I don't flow free because it feels uncomfortable but the point is that it's not disgusting to have a period.
I don't always wear protection to bed. I don't bleed everywhere to be honest!

Grim. This is like the feminists who think it’s totally cool to have bushy pubes poking out of their bikini bottoms when they go swimming. Well sorry, but I think pubes are more disgusting than other bodily or head hair. And menstrual blood is more disgusting than blood from a cut finger. They’re not disgusting on myself, or on a sexual partner. But on a random stranger sitting on the bus, they’d be pretty disgusting to look at. Anything that grows or discharges out of your genital area should be kept private for the most part.

Equally ridiculous are the women who say it’s sexist that sanitary towel adverts show blue liquids, rather than red liquids, on the pads. Who would want to see that on TV when they’re eating their tea in the evening? Would they also want to see brown covered nappies, or yellow soaked incontinence pads, or condoms that look full of semen on a TV ad?

Anyone who says ‘period blood is the same as any other blood’, well what would be worse - finding a waiter’s head hair in your soup, or one of his pubic hairs? Or would they be equally disgusting because, after all, hair is just hair?

"This is like those who avoid vaccines"

Disagree.

Because those who avoid vaccines (other than for medical reasons) really exist.

Free-flowing as PPs have pointed out isn't real

It was a joke to parody some manifestations of feminists. That is has caught on is really rather unfortunate. (Idly wonders about the crossover between those who try this out and those who actually name their DC La-a after hearing that urban myth)

Just while we’re on the subject of periods, there is a real period poverty amongst many in society. If you’re concerned about periods being a feminist issue or just want to support other women, it would be great if posters could include pads in their next gift to their local food bank. Pads are better than tampons because all women can use them.

Free Bleeding is not a feminist movement.

Its a myth. The group has a troll winding up its members. Wake up ffs.

I don't always wear protection to bed. I don't bleed everywhere to be honest! Well lucky you, VileyRose. Some of us have to use extra long and absorbent lads at night and still have to get up to change them at least once. And lost someone’s pubes poking out of their swimsuit don’t hurt you anymore than if they were contained. Trimming public hair (or removing it) is a bit of feminist issue, tbh, and def8 Italy isn’t a hygiene one, which ‘freebleeding’ is.

I had worse periods when I did west disaposible pads. It's not s miracle answer but I don't suffer half as much since changing to cloth.

pooryorick I buy all mine off various sellers on Etsy. The owl ones I bought 8 years ago (and still going very strong!) and I don’t think the seller is around anymore, but I bought some recently from a seller called crimsonmoonpsp and they’re awesome - thin but super absorbent. I think she uses a special fabric that absorbs and stops leaks. Having said that I do alternate between mooncup and pad depending on how active I am on that day.

‘Flowing free’ would send us back to the dark ages. It’s no coincidence that women started being taken seriously in the workplace only after the availability of sanitary towels / tampons.

"it would be great if posters could include pads in their next gift to their local food bank"

As with any item, check what your foodbank actualky wants

Ours has sanpro on the "no more for now, we have oodles" list

Trimming public hair (or removing it) is a bit of feminist issue

I completely agree. But I didn’t suggest women should trim or remove their pubic hair, I just think they should cover it up in swimming shorts. I would feel the same about men who had pubic hair sticking out of their Speedos. No it doesn’t hurt me, but I think it’s unpleasant and people should have a bit more modesty when they’re in public.

Its a myth. The group has a troll winding up its members. Wake up ffs

Yy. Honestly, everyone, this is a hoax! No one is seriously suggesting free-bleeding be adopted as a feminist principle.

On the other hand, it has performed a function in flushing out (see what I did there) some weird, retrograde attitudes to periods, depressingly from women as well as men.

And yes, to what someone up the thread said, the feminist issue surrounding periods is the extent to which women and girls, whether impoverished and in the developed world, or in poorer countries, being kept away from education, work, or participating in civic life either because of (1) attitudes to menstruation or (2) because of an inability to afford tampons or towels.

I’m not sure what visible pubic hair has to do with modesty, to be honest, lost. You can’t see any more than you could on someone who had trimmed/shaved. It’s not my personal taste to show pubic hair, but I don’t see it as a modesty/self respect/whatever issue.

As a teen I hated periods like most girls.

After having my children, I don't actually mind my periods. It's just part of life (apart from the mood swings and cramps of course) but I honestly don't mind.

I use reusable towels as I find them better. I would never free flow. Waaaaaay too messy and why would blood everywhere? If I cut my arm or leg, I don't let it flow. I stop the bleeding and cover it

Periods are nothing to be embarrassed about but who wants to sit in a puddle of blood ruining their clothes every month.
When you think about the very real issues of period poverty and the health risks women have in third world countries because they don't have access to safe Sanpro these idiots look so entitled and stupid.

Its a myth. The group has a troll winding up its members. Wake up ffs

If that was true, then it wouldn't be every other post.. and there wouldn't be about 50 other 'trolls' agreeing!

I seem to be the only one going against the grain on there

I’m really sorry for mocking the ‘owl towels’ with Tibetan monks. I had no idea they were real. I thought it was made up by the poster mocking the ‘free flowers’.

I use and highly recommend these if anyone’s interested in washable sanitary towels (+/- owls and leaves). You do have to get past the name (fairy hammocks) but it’s worth it in my experience.

The even do sanitary towels with owls on though I don’t think they’re made by Tibetan monks, unfortunately.

Come on now I said ‘prayed’ not ‘made’ And you’re right. I cannot get over ‘Fairy Hanmock’

Moon cups are the way forward ladies.

Everyone I've made try one has never looked back

I second SecondTerf's WeeNotions recommendation, odd names (fairy hammocks and peapods, the latter also works for stress incontinence) but great products.

As for free-flowing...I lean towards trolls usually on this but there are some (likely as others said who have never had a heavy period) who like to one-up others with how ~natural~ and nonconforming they can be. I really don't get it and don't think it has anything to do with women's liberation. I'll keep my cloth pads and comfy black period pants, thanks, menstruation is hard enough already without making it an ethics performance.