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?

@Whatwouldscullydo

Exactly that. Every argument I’ve ever seen for retaining single sex loos has included privacy for menstruating women yet it seems that 86% of women couldn’t care less

Holding a wrapped pad in your hand where no one should even notice you are holding it is much different to having to change it and clean up , fimd a bin to dispose of the old one and wash any blood off your hands

But why would you care? Because everyone knows women have periods, don’t they? You can’t have it both ways.

Hope none of your colleagues were listening to radio 5 this afternoon. Mark Kermode said 'period' on the actual radio! In the afternoon! And he didn't even mean full stop!!!!! Scandalous

It’s not professional- bit like going to the bathroom to freshen up at work holding your toothbrush

I don't understand what is 'unprofessional' about having a period?

@yesterdayisgone

Why can’t you be discreet with your towel ? There’s millions of women in the world and it’s not common to see a woman walking around with a sanitary towel . Ok May you don’t have pockets or a handbag so try an A4 envelope

Interesting isn’t it, millions of us in the world and it’s not common to see us walking around with sanitary protection. Millions of us, all hiding it. Why?

Carry the whole box next time

@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.

Do you know how inadequate womens pockets are, if they're even provided on an article of clothing?

Don't be ridiculous.

At least you know what to wear for the X-mas party - a Tampon flapper dress! Or a gown made of sanitary towels.

Seriously, if you can't talk about periods, sanpro or contraception then you aren't mature enough to have sex.

This thread is so utterly depressing. By simply taking a sanitary towel to the toilet without a ‘wash bag’ (WTF!) a woman is being indiscreet, undignified, flaunting her disgusting periods, having no class and having her actions compared to stripping.

There is nothing shameful about having a period. There is nothing offensive about sanitary products. I don’t want to take a bag or shove things up my sleeve. I am just living as a woman and I refuse to feel any shame for that.

@TheKeatingFive

It’s not professional- bit like going to the bathroom to freshen up at work holding your toothbrush

I don't understand what is 'unprofessional' about having a period?

Because she interrupted those really professional men’s viewing pleasure at work by alluding to her pesky biology.

Millions of us, all hiding it. Why?

Because we've all been conditioned to pretend that women don't have periods. Time to stop playing along.

YANBU, I’d be asking to make a complaint.

Because she interrupted those really professional men’s viewing pleasure at work by alluding to her pesky biology.

Filthy slattern

I've even thought of a drag name if you really want to glam it up - Maxi Padd! Fabulous and free-flowin' .............it's
MAXI PADD!!

I let you have that for free!

Exactly that. Every argument I’ve ever seen for retaining single sex loos has included privacy for menstruating women yet it seems that 86% of women couldn’t care less.

You don't see the difference between holding an item of san pro in your hand whilst walking past a couple of men and actually changing it in the vicinity of men? I mean I love my partner and he buys it for me, but I don't particularly want to invite him anywhere near me when changing it let alone strangers.

I don’t feel the same as majority it seems. I would never walk to loo holding sanitary wear. I feel that is a private part of me that I don’t need to let advertise to everyone, male or female. Some things are not for sharing in my view and that’s one of them.

@theworstwife

This thread is so utterly depressing. By simply taking a sanitary towel to the toilet without a ‘wash bag’ (WTF!) a woman is being indiscreet, undignified, flaunting her disgusting periods, having no class and having her actions compared to stripping.

There is nothing shameful about having a period. There is nothing offensive about sanitary products. I don’t want to take a bag or shove things up my sleeve. I am just living as a woman and I refuse to feel any shame for that.

Well said, I totally agree

@GreenWheat

Personally I think it's rather akin to announcing you're just off for a poo. TMI for the office and discretion is better for all office toilet trips.

I agree, no need to advertise why you are going to the loo or even that you. Who needs to know?

Or put it on your discreet sanpro tote bag. In glitter and rhinestones.

Send them a link to the new Always add.

• even that you are.

I think the discretion the coworkers want relates to carrying toilet things around, not carrying women’s things around. I’ve never seen anyone carrying a sanitary towel to the loo in a workplace. It’s not squeamishness about women’s business, it’s just toilet business.
That said, I wouldn’t go to the bother of complaining about it. Offices can be eccentric places but carrying your ST around in full view is only mildly eccentric.

Set up a crustacean menstruation station on your desk.

I feel that is a private part of me that I don’t need to let advertise to everyone, male or female.

I hate to break it to you, but everyone already knows that if you're a woman of a certain age you probably have periods

Of course it’s ridiculous of them to complain but come on, most people would find it pretty weird if their colleague did this. Just as it would be weird to walk around with a loo roll.

It’s just a thing you don’t do, like arriving at work in your pyjamas.

@Blossomtoes

Be careful though it could reduce the strength of arguments for single sex toilets as women are very comfortable with men knowing they are having a period.

Exactly that. Every argument I’ve ever seen for retaining single sex loos has included privacy for menstruating women yet it seems that 86% of women couldn’t care less.

Oh yes, this is definitely the same thing! I mean she’s basically changing her pad at her desk isn’t she?! And those men have shown there’s zero stigma for menstruating women and so sharing toilets with men would be fine!! I mean it’s almost the perfect argument you’ve got there. If it just had a bit of logic and was the opposite to what you’d written, it would make perfect sense.