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?

Peri menopausal and free flowing? Good grief, the police would be called if I walked down the street free flowing. I would look like I had been attacked.

Period blood is a bit worse than normal blood - like uterus lining shedding. Not just free flowing fresh blood, but older & more clotty & smelly. No one should be ashamed of it tho. Don’t agree with free-flowing, but it is a feminist issue cos so many can’t afford sanitary protection & the tax etc.

@Yb23487643 but then isn't unfair taxation or poverty the issue rather than the free flowing which is just a disgusting gimmick?

I worked in a call centre years ago and one woman did this for cultural reasons-there was blood everywhere. It was awful and a potential health hazard, it was in corridors, all around the bathrooms etc... It was clearly part of her culture to leave it everywhere and expect others to clean it up as well!

@Yb23487643 , I’m sorry but I don’t buy the “can’t afford it” argument. I specifically took notice of the price today, Tesco own brand pads 23p for a ten pack, so even for a heavy bleeder using 4 packs of ten it’s still less than a quid.

So “can’t afford it” is just a bollocks excuse, because short of being homeless and destitute everyone has 23p to deal with their period.

Dirty woman 😷

It does happen on this country that ppl can’t afford it but was thinking more globally really.

OJZJ
Didn’t you complain to management? Sorry but that was beyond making allowances for cultural sensitivities.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-42013239

Tax wise it is assumed that menstrual sanitary products are not essential, classed the same as nicotine patches, making the government millions over the years. I do not think this would be the case if men needed the products so do see why some women want to make a feminist point that if we don't 'need' them we should as a society be happy for women to carry on life without them.
I think when major companies provide 'education' and supplies to schools then they need us to believe periods are horrid things which their products deal with. I have to say I felt pretty stupid when I found a good menstrual cup, all the money, tampon leaks, environmental impact of stuff I'd used. I think it's great that periods are being talked about hoping it will be better for the next generation. Just ordered reusable pads, I think once you have kids some of your squeamishness goes and realise you are now the grown ups and if you want world to change for your kids you have to be a part of it. Like poster above Caitlin Moran did make me think why aren't periods in stories, movies etc when they are so important and have a big impact on us?

Net everyone lives near TEsco though, some places may have one small shop with limited choice, etc.

I wish I could use a mooncup. I like the idea that once you've got it, that's it for a few years, seems way less wasteful.

@thejoyofsox
I have come across many girls who couldn't afford products and have asked around office for some and bought some to keep at work to give away. It's becoming a much bigger problem due to continual cuts to benefits. I think reusables need to be much more accessible and affordable and education should have to be independent of major companies.

Periods themselves aren’t disgusting, they are a natural thing that happens to a majority of women. But, it’s a bodily fluid that should be leaked willy nilly all over the place....especially my nice clean surfaces!! Inserting tampons isn’t unhygienic if done correctly. Wearing a pad for longer than you should is more disgusting than changing your tampon frequently.

I would love to see them try and deal with a heavy, clot full period when they’ve got a meeting at work whilst free flowing. Mainly because I’d love some cleaning tips because I’ve ruined lots of lovely pants over the years

Just to say menstrual cups are not one size fits all, there are many brands, sizes, some are bound to be uncomfortable as will be wrong size or shape. I bought one for traveling but wouldn't go back to tampons as find them more gross now.

Nothing to do with feminism, she's confused!

Women in some cultures 'retreat' from the rest of society each month in celebration of their role in society = good and admirable?

In this and other societies women use sanitary products in order to go about their everyday lives = bad and repressive?

I can think of better things to do with my annual leave than being stuck in my house, 'free flowing' all over it.

Mummyof Got flash backs of it now.. Yep we all complained regularly... first time I saw a trail of blood leading to the ladies I told my manager someone must have had an accident-it's how I found out it menstrual and was apparently cultural... not sure which culture as that was never disclosed and I am quite ignorant, but would have thought if it was a cultural practice then she would have stayed at home. I felt sorry for our cleaners...

Sorry, all this makes me think of is this awful stuff. I am all for powerful women and their rights and choices and blah lol , but these are period pants. Not 'Wow these undies are so absorbant I can bleed all day and feel grrrrrrrreat!' (Unsure why Tony the Tiger would be the one to advocate them) however, these are pants decorated with gems and things to look like blood! www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3344696/That-time-month-new-jewelry-Designer-debuts-line-PERIOD-inspired-blood-colored-bling-hopes-destigmatizing-menstruation.html
I get enough of seeing the real thing thanks, not that I'd be stoopid enough to wear white at this time anyways! lol Just because this is glittery shite doesn't mean its perty!

I kind of get it. (Not read the whole thread) there is something cleansing about a period, particularly as for me, it lead to a freeing up of all that tense pmt I had in the week before.
Use pads at least though. Too messy otherwise.

Given that I bleed heavily and flood through for 8 days, it is definitely a hygeine issue and would be a hideous experience. So yanbu.

I've gone down the owl-and-Tibetan-Monk-patterned sanitary towel rabbit hole now.

You can get Star Wars ones.

Etsy has lots of designs. Foxes are popular. I like the sharks, makes sense re: shark week. Sent DH the link to the Pokemon ones, we both like those. Not so keen on the Game of Thrones/Supernatural ones where you bleed directly onto the characters' faces.

Free bleeding isn’t a new idea, it was a 1970s thing to protest against chemicals in tampons increasing the risk of TSS.

As far as I can tell the hoax part is the idea that women would do this outside the home. As far as I can tell the original idea was to give the body a break from protection, much as you might let a baby have some nappy free time to get the air to the bum, free bleeding involves sitting or sleeping on an old bath towel or similar.

@yassqueen
I feel bad I've chosen plain uninspiring fluffy vagina blankets now, though not sure why owls are so popular?? I think I would quite like male oppressors faces on them but maybe that's too far ;-) I'm sure there will be unicorn and llama ones soon before Disney come along give us character ones....

TSS was first identified in children in 1978, and the link to tampons did not come until the 1980s.

If there was any talk of free bleeding then, it was in seriously niche circles, and possibly not in UK at all. I was an activist at that time, and do not recall it at all.

Break from tampons, yes. Free bleeding, no.

First I heard was the more recent hoax. Well, not the hoax itself, but the number of people who were ready to believe that it was real and the discussions that were spawned from a wholly invented movement.

There's probably a PhD thesis in that!

Tillybilly MARVELLOUS IDEA regarding male oppressors.... in fact I took ot one step further and thought we could extend the range to include toilet paper.... how popular would that be with current tensions .... now if only I could be bothered to patent the idea with you

I've never heard of this before, where have I been?! Totally gross idea. Bloody carried disease. If be raging if I say on a bus seat and covered in somebody's blood 😝😝

since when has period blood been disgusting or seen as shameful? Every1 is either a woman or has/had a mom or mother figure.
I have never experienced this and I find it strange. Both my father and my husband have no 'issues' with such things, as my dh says without them none of us would be here. They've both gone to the shop for me and changed my sheets wen I've been unable to and dh has even cleaned me up wen I've passed out.

However, having said that I wouldn't ever consider free flowing as I find it a bit grim just the same as I find all bodily fluids a bit grim
I have a thing about blood where I pass out or puke (sometimes both which is always fun lol) and to know that I would encounter it going about my business, on the bus, shopping etc would just about push me over the edge to never going out again.

It does get me worked up though when I learn of things like tampon tax and that even WOMEN voted against abolishing it and agreeing that it's a luxury item.
We actively campaign in my area and raise money for sanitary products to be given to those in need (schools, public loos, police cells etc) only to find the rug pulled out from our feet by some women saying "I don't want it anyway".

As for shaving, I try not to judge people who do things differently to me but there is just something about 'going natural' that I can't help but judge in my thoughts.