I just been told off by my manager for walking across the office with a sanitary towel in my hand!

[TinLeaf]

This afternoon my manager call me into her office. Apparently, a couple of people have spoken to her because I sometimes walk to the office toilets carrying a sanitary towel and it’s making them uncomfortable. She has suggested I take my bag with me instead.

I thought times had moved on and I refuse to be made to feel ashamed of my period. I think the people who have complained are being ridiculous and need to get over it. Aibu?

A couple of men?

That’s ridiculous

Same as carrying loo roll, surely? Utter bonkers.

That is infuriating. Periods are nothing to be ashamed of.

People are uncomfortable with you being a woman? That's insane. I can't believe the manager gave them the time of day

They are men or pearl clutchers. Who on earth gets offended by a sanitary towel? Ridiculous.

Unless they are used yanbu

Your manager never should have even spoken to you about this, what misogynistic nonsense. Are packs of tissues banned in your office?

Think I’d start leaving them on my desk at all times! Maybe make a sign saying mind your own business out of tampons?

What a load of sexist shite, she should be ashamed of herself and the disservice she’s doing to feminism.

I’d be emailing her asking her to clarify the issue and cc HR in.

While I think it is ridiculous anyone complained. There is something to be said for being discreet. Obviously you are going to have a period but do you need to let everyone know. Just put it in your pocket.

Unless its a dirty one you're waving over your head then YANBU

They can't be working very hard if they notice (assuming you aren't waving it around above your head!)

You could suggest that the company supplies pads and tampons in the toilets to save you having to carry one in.

Buy one of these and stuff it full of sanpro and walk through the office with it every time you go to the loo. It’s then in a bag as requested

www.amazon.co.uk/Capacity-Toiletry-Crossbody-Adjustable-Concerts/dp/B07YWLCLHQ/ref=asc_df_B07YWLCLHQ/?hvlocphy=1006959&hvlocphy=1006959&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvnetw=g&hvadid=394317002042&hvadid=394317002042&hvpone&hvpone&hvlocint&hvlocint&ref&hvpos&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-839069034184&hvtargid=pla-839069034184&hvrand=13145761666549158384&hvrand=13145761666549158384&adgrpid=83570236924

Fucking hell. The sensible thing here would be to carry on as normal, and also check the intranet for HR policies on such idiocy. But I’d be highly tempted to sew myself a fringed flapper dress with the fringe made entirely of tampons, and shimmy across the office in it, clapping mooncups together like coconuts.

Unless you’ve got it stuck to your forehead, then the complainants are ridiculous. Who is watching you that closely to notice, creepy.

@SparkleSpangle

While I think it is ridiculous anyone complained. There is something to be said for being discreet. Obviously you are going to have a period but do you need to let everyone know. Just put it in your pocket.

What if she doesn’t have a pocket. “Sanitary towel in hand” is fairly discreet: she’s not stuck it to her forehead.

Alternatively you could get a few pairs of period pants and carry them across the office instead....

@SparkleSpangle

While I think it is ridiculous anyone complained. There is something to be said for being discreet. Obviously you are going to have a period but do you need to let everyone know. Just put it in your pocket.

Why does she need to be “discreet” though? It’s not anyone else’s business (and not every outfit has pockets anyway)

Wow is it 1950 again and we didn’t get the memo? Totally unacceptable for her to pull you up on this.
How can another woman’s period make any one uncomfortable? I just can’t imagine who would complain about seeing a sanitary towel.

Put it in a clear sandwich bag next time

Request that they put it in writing the exact nature of the distress caused by a sanitary towel

@SparkleSpangle

While I think it is ridiculous anyone complained. There is something to be said for being discreet. Obviously you are going to have a period but do you need to let everyone know. Just put it in your pocket.

Where are you buying your office clothes? Mine never have pockets in .

Pretty sure this wouldn't stand up in a discrimination tribunal, speak to HR.

In the meantime, I love the idea of the tampon flapper dress!

How ridiculous! We all know people go to the loo to shit and piss. It’s not exactly shocking that women get their periods and need to change their sanitary wear.

Talk about dark ages stuff!

They're uncomfortable that you have your period? Or that you're not pretending women don't have periods?