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Original poster

AIBU to find it REFRESHING how shame-free girls in secondary schools are about having a period?

47 replies

Japingjaponica · 18/11/2021 17:02

A queue of girls at secondary school today saying to me 'I can't swim miss I'm on my period' and it's just a normal and everyday thing for them to say.
Compared to the fear and secrecy and SHAME we had in the 80s, hiding our products and not even talking about it to other girls. My Dad talking about it in tones of shame and disgust. Society doesn't always develop positively but today made me weirdly happy.

OP posts:
ArblemarchTFruitbat · 18/11/2021 17:05

I don't know any teenagers, but I'm glad to hear this. I'm another 80s teenager and I agree, it felt as though menstruation was something to be ashamed of back then.

deedeemegadoodoo · 18/11/2021 17:08

Yes absolutely! They can also get a choice of free sanitary products throughout school as well. When I was at school in the 80s, we had to buy one for the office. A really thick sanitary pad (no tampons!)

I still remember sitting through a chemistry lesson knowing that I was bleeding and not being able to do anything about it. I had to try and wipe the seat at the end without anyone noticing

BarefootHippieChick · 18/11/2021 17:09

The difference now is that back in the 80s you used to be able to get out of pe lessons if you were on your period but now teachers are having none of it. I swear I had permanent periods as a teenager 😆

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 18/11/2021 17:12

They would be assumed to be lying when I was at school... anything to get out of PE.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 18/11/2021 17:18

@BarefootHippieChick

The difference now is that back in the 80s you used to be able to get out of pe lessons if you were on your period but now teachers are having none of it. I swear I had permanent periods as a teenager 😆
Not at my school, unless it was swimming. If only!
TimeForTeaAndG · 18/11/2021 17:22

Whilst I'm glad they feel able to be honest and unashamed, I'd feel sad that girls are still opting out of sports because they have their period. There are so many options that would enable them to take part, understanding obviously that families have financial restrictions and so forth but knowing what's available might help give them more of a chance to join in.

BarefootHippieChick · 18/11/2021 17:23

Not at my school, unless it was swimming. If only!

I didn't do swimming, but my mum was often writing notes for my pe teacher. She must have wondered why so many girls seemed to have periods week after week 😆

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/11/2021 17:27

Dd thinks my euphemisms and me taking her aside for any period related conversations are very funny. She'll quite happily ask DH for a hot water bottle for period cramps. I'd have died rather than mention it to my dad at her age.

Puddington · 18/11/2021 17:33

@BarefootHippieChick

The difference now is that back in the 80s you used to be able to get out of pe lessons if you were on your period but now teachers are having none of it. I swear I had permanent periods as a teenager 😆
Ha, this! I didn't mind other forms of PE but swimming classes (in the grotty school pool) lumped in with the boys as a teen was terrible. About half the girls had a period every week.
XenoBitch · 18/11/2021 17:34

I am in my 40s, and still hide a sanitary pad up my sleeve so no one can see it when I go to the loo. And cough when opening the wrapper or ripping the pad off my knickers.
If teen girls nowadays are shame free then I say damn right and about time!
How about also not having ads for pads where they use blue liquid? I am pretty sure Bodyform were trying to change this, but that was while ago and I never watch live TV to see such ads nowadays anyway. Women are not horseshoe crabs. Our blood is red.

actiongirl1978 · 18/11/2021 17:37

Agree OP. I talk to my DS11 about my period and explained the menopause to him in great detail recently.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 18/11/2021 17:39

@BarefootHippieChick

Not at my school, unless it was swimming. If only!

I didn't do swimming, but my mum was often writing notes for my pe teacher. She must have wondered why so many girls seemed to have periods week after week 😆

They started keeping a register of periods at my school when we all kept saying we had them. 1980s schooling at its worst...!
Monkeymilkshake · 18/11/2021 17:40

Also now we have period pants/knickers! Game changer. They are so comfortable and no noise when you change them. Best thing about having periods now!

XenoBitch · 18/11/2021 17:41

They started keeping a register of periods at my school when we all kept saying we had them. 1980s schooling at its worst...!

Same when I was a teen in the 90s. You could mention your period as a reason to not shower, but you would have a 'P' next to your name on the register. We had a horrid PE teacher who would ask to see soiled pads as proof too, if she thought you were lying.

Danikm151 · 18/11/2021 17:43

Good! Girls shouldn’t be ashamed of their periods. Neither should women tbf

BarefootHippieChick · 18/11/2021 17:45

1980s schooling at its worst...!

Indeed!!

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 18/11/2021 17:45

They started keeping a register of periods at my school when we all kept saying we had them. 1980s schooling at its worst...!

We used to get told that we should be using tampons. I'd have loved to use tampons but for some reason I was never able to until after I lost my virginity, which happened long after I'd left school (assume I must have had a very strong hymen). Of course, I didn't have the guts to tell them that.

XenoBitch · 18/11/2021 17:48

@ArblemarchTFruitbat

They started keeping a register of periods at my school when we all kept saying we had them. 1980s schooling at its worst...!

We used to get told that we should be using tampons. I'd have loved to use tampons but for some reason I was never able to until after I lost my virginity, which happened long after I'd left school (assume I must have had a very strong hymen). Of course, I didn't have the guts to tell them that.

Ugh, that is grim that they told you to use tampons. I remember sex ed during the last year of primary school, and the girls were shown a tampon being put into a jug of water. We all got grossed out at it blowing up to 10 times the size. I swear that put us off them!
saveourtrees · 18/11/2021 17:49

@TimeForTeaAndG

Whilst I'm glad they feel able to be honest and unashamed, I'd feel sad that girls are still opting out of sports because they have their period. There are so many options that would enable them to take part, understanding obviously that families have financial restrictions and so forth but knowing what's available might help give them more of a chance to join in.
Ha! I don't know about others but getting changed in a communal change room, having to get all sweaty without the chance of washing and smelling for the rest of the day, also having to 'compete' with the competitive girls aka bullies I enjoyed playing hockey with the boys last period but playing netball with the bitches was like chasing a ball in hell
PlanDeRaccordement · 18/11/2021 17:51

My school wasn’t like that at all. Also was in secondary school in the 80s.

BarefootHippieChick · 18/11/2021 17:51

I'm with saveourtrees

I fucking HATED pe!!!

WonderfulYou · 18/11/2021 17:53

I am always amazed by the new generations at secondary school, they make me so proud.

Obviously some are still shy and anxious but most are really open about periods and boys are more open about it too. It’s not something to be ashamed of.

I find it with most things actually like being gay, different religions etc - they are just so much more open and non-judgemental about things.

Boood · 18/11/2021 17:53

Ugh, that is grim that they told you to use tampons.
I remember sex ed during the last year of primary school, and the girls were shown a tampon being put into a jug of water. We all got grossed out at it blowing up to 10 times the size. I swear that put us off them!

Primary school children think all sorts of perfectly normal things are “gross”- you surely don’t still think that as an adult?

XenoBitch · 18/11/2021 17:54

@Boood

*Ugh, that is grim that they told you to use tampons. I remember sex ed during the last year of primary school, and the girls were shown a tampon being put into a jug of water. We all got grossed out at it blowing up to 10 times the size. I swear that put us off them!*

Primary school children think all sorts of perfectly normal things are “gross”- you surely don’t still think that as an adult?

I have never used a tampon in my life, but that stems from other things and not just that fateful day in primary school.
Abraxan · 18/11/2021 18:01

I agree that's it is really refreshing that as a group many teens and younger woman don't seem to have the same shame or fitness issues regarding periods and other woman's issues/health etc had growing up.

Dd and her friends are very open with one another and other people about this kind of thing, including with their boyfriends and other male friends. The boys and young men also seem to be fine talking about it.

So much better than feeling it is something to hide away from others.