Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think scouts isn't the place

105 replies

Crockof · 16/03/2019 20:17

Scouts on Thursday, 24 boys and two girls. They spent the whole night talking about periods, showing tampons and towels playing period related games. Aibu to think this is not appropriate, as a girl I would be mortified. There was no advanced warning. Had they spoken about boy puberty as well I would be less concerned

OP posts:
PhannyMcNee · 16/03/2019 20:21

Why would you be mortified? Because of the social stigma surrounding periods?

Surely by talking about menstruation with boys will help reduce some of the embarrassment factor and mystery surrounding it. Given that roughly half the population will have a period at some point in their lives, it is a pretty normal, everyday thing.

WorraLiberty · 16/03/2019 20:22

Perhaps boy puberty is next week?

TyneTeas · 16/03/2019 20:25

Having just read this, maybe it isn't such a bad idea

www.thepoke.co.uk/2019/03/12/womans-date-thought-periods-last-entire-month-favourite-13-responses/

MegaBat · 16/03/2019 20:27

Oh this drives me mad. Why can't boys go to scouts and girls go to guides? They should make guides and brownies more interesting because it seems like more fun is to be had at the boys groups

And I have a boy and a girl myself. I believe in girl spaces and boy spaces .

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/03/2019 20:31

Oh this drives me mad. Why can't boys go to scouts

Boys weren't going to scouts , thats why girls were invited to join

excitedtobehere · 16/03/2019 20:32

playing period related games
Confused How does that work?

Original poster
Crockof · 16/03/2019 20:32

Because (before you all get outraged) the boys didn't empathise they are 12, they don't get the intricacies of puberty, they are awkward and embarrassed, the girls squirmed. In school talks are separated so girls have a safe space.

OP posts:
Original poster
Crockof · 16/03/2019 20:33

Boys were going to scouts, they were made to be more inclusive

OP posts:
Yubaba · 16/03/2019 20:34

Every one of the boys has a girl or woman in their life who menstruates.
I think it’s an excellent idea, I’m a beaver leader and I saw in a closed FB group the leader of your scout troop talking about this night and how successful it was. So YABU.

woodhill · 16/03/2019 20:34

Sounds cringey poor boys

CherryPavlova · 16/03/2019 20:34

Mmmmmmnnnnn.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/03/2019 20:34

Because (before you all get outraged)

I dont think anyone is outraged yet

It does seem like a strange topic for a cubs evening and certainly didnt happen when my children went

Original poster
Crockof · 16/03/2019 20:34

Period games were catching a ball with a statement on and matching it with something on the wall

OP posts:
chilledteacher · 16/03/2019 20:34

Because boys are going to grow up to be Husbands/Boyfriends/Fathers of Daughters and should know this stuff? My DS1 after learning about periods at Scouts was brilliant, he took to plumping up cushions for me, randomly making me cups of tea and buying me chocolate bars, actually keeping the bathroom tidy!! I eventually admitted to him I wasn't actually having a period at the moment but the thought was lovely... I cling on to the fact that he will enter adulthood with a bit of empathy and understanding.

melissasummerfield · 16/03/2019 20:35

Wonder what that badge will look like Blush

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/03/2019 20:35

boys were not going to scouts

Numbers were down and organisation was opened up to girls

AChickenCalledKorma · 16/03/2019 20:38

Both my daughters are scouts, in a group which is 50:50 boys and girls. They are not particularly interested in girl only spaces. But this activity does sound particularly strange and would, I think, have been potentially excruciating for the two girls.

beenhereages1 · 16/03/2019 20:39

I agree @AChickenCalledKorma ! I imagine the girls found it pretty hard!

HomeMadeMadness · 16/03/2019 20:40

Actually sounds like quite a good idea. Boys should learn about periods too.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/03/2019 20:41

Having said that girls did join from 1976...

Original poster
Crockof · 16/03/2019 20:42

@yubaba well in that case the leaders perception is different to the children's response. My friends daughter doesn't want to return and all the other boys feel awkward and uncomfortable. @chilledteacher my sons knew before scouts about periods and how I struggle (as did my dd) because we talk about it at home. I'm sad scouts had to teach your son about periods.

OP posts:
Rubusfruticosus · 16/03/2019 20:45

Children should learn about both female and male puberty but this is Scouts, not school life skills class, YANBU.

WorraLiberty · 16/03/2019 20:52

Because (before you all get outraged) the boys didn't empathise they are 12, they don't get the intricacies of puberty, they are awkward and embarrassed, the girls squirmed. In school talks are separated so girls have a safe space.

A 'safe' space to do what exactly?

Period/puberty/sex talks are not separated in my DC's school. The classes are mixed thankfully.

MollyHuaCha · 16/03/2019 20:53

Wonder what that badge will look like.

Grin
Hunter037 · 16/03/2019 20:53

In school talks are separated so girls have a safe space.
Not necessarily. We teach it as part of science (not PSHE or SRE or whatever) and it's a mixed group. Boys need to know this stuff too and have just as many questions. I think it is good to talk about it lots to reduce stigma, misconceptions and embarassment.
Kids don't squirm when we talk about brushing their teeth or how the human heart works. They should be able to talk about other hygiene processes and biological functions too.