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?

Please push back. Jesus effing Christ. And keep doing it. Do it every day to make a point…

@Obira

I think it’s appropriate to keep personal things private. Why do you want to flash your sanpro around when you’ve been told it makes people feel uncomfortable?

What do you mean by flashing her sanpro around? Is someone walking through the office with a cup of tea flashing their cup of tea around?

I mean unless you were walking across the office singing WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BODYFORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM, BODYFORMEDDDDDDDDD FOR YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU then your boss is a dick.

I know times have changed but why do you feel.the need to "advertise " your period to the rest of your workforce? Is nothing private anymore? What's wrong with taking your handbag to the loos?

@Obira

I think it’s appropriate to keep personal things private. Why do you want to flash your sanpro around when you’ve been told it makes people feel uncomfortable?

I don’t flash it around

I don't know that I'd carry a sanitary towel in plain sight of everybody any more than I'd tuck a rolled up newspaper under one arm and a toilet roll under the other. Probably because I don't want to signal what it is I'm off to do. Same as I find it curious when Mil announces "I'm off for a wee" or similar. I wouldn't share that detail and if all things were equal, I prefer not to know the planned activity of my colleagues, friends or family as they skip off to the bogs. But I can't imagine a single situation when I'd feel that other people should hide their sanitary towel from the office if they're happy to have it in hand. And I'd never bloody complain. How strange.

On a really stressful day these replies are cracking me up!!

I'm now imagining women in offices all across the land with sanitary towels stuck to their forehead/ used as decorations shouting I'm on the blob as they stride purposefully towards the loos.

God I love MN sometimes.

Ideally they'd be progressive enough to have sanpro in the toilets like toilet paper

So their discomfort matters, but yours does not. There must be some difference between the two of you. What could it be… it’s on the tip of my tongue… maybe you could ask HR to clarify 🤔

Wouldn't it be interesting to know the gender of those who have complained. Your manager would seem to have discriminated against you on gender grounds.

@Georgeskitchen

I know times have changed but why do you feel.the need to "advertise " your period to the rest of your workforce? Is nothing private anymore? What's wrong with taking your handbag to the loos?

What do you think taking your handbag to the loo signifies?

Next month hang a tampon from each ear en route. Or from your specs if you wear them.

@Georgeskitchen

I know times have changed but why do you feel.the need to "advertise " your period to the rest of your workforce? Is nothing private anymore? What's wrong with taking your handbag to the loos?

Advertising! She’s not strapped on some roller skates to go with her all-white jumpsuit.

I work in a female dominated environment that is very open about bodily functions. Yet mine still gets stuffed in my pocket on my way to the loo.

@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.

So like rather than going straight to the loo you talk a walk round Accounts first? Just so that you don't raise suspicions.

How about if you have hay fever? Can you show people your tissues or is this bodily function also too embarrassing?

You really should be rollerskaing in white jeans to the loo, to properly announce it.

Wtf were they looming at what you were taking into the toilet. I put mine in my pocket but that's not the point, you should be able to take whatever you want to the loo without some man complaining. I would probably end up speaking to HR as I don't think what your manager said was appropriate.

That's ridiculous.

I've had to do this before if my clothes didn't have pockets as I'm not about to carry my entire backpack to the bathroom, or awkwardly hide it in my sleeve or something.

My workplace has sanitary products in the women's and the unisex bathrooms, but they're not ones I personally like so I bring my own.

Carry it in your handbag but buy one of those huge Dom Joly huge phones and stride through the office to the bogs, shouting into the phone, “CAN’T TALK I’VE JUST COME ON AND I’M BLEEDING ALL OVER THE PLACE! GOT TO CHANGE MY JAM RAG!” or any other horrendous description of periods and sanitary products.

But in all seriousness for a minute, if you are obviously walking towards the toilets, you are fucking obviously going to be doing a bodily function, right? I mean I just don't get the squeamishness about this??

@Obira

I think it’s appropriate to keep personal things private. Why do you want to flash your sanpro around when you’ve been told it makes people feel uncomfortable?

Yes. Mind you, whether it makes other people uncomfortable or not is irrelevant, but some things are best to remain private. Whatever happened to decorum?

People might leave the office at lunchtime, go to the chemist, buy condoms for their evening's entertainment, and return to work. You wouldn't expect to see them walking through the office clutching their Durex, would you?

Please get a lilet and nonchantly swing it around by the string as you walk to the loo

Wow I would completely ignore the complaint and the men who have an issue with it. Tell them to get over themselves, it's pathetic and there are way worse things happening in the world. They can't do anything about you carrying a sanitary towel to the toilet, I would be tempted slap one in their face to be honest!

@stuntbubbles

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.

Brilliant, really truly laughing at the thought of this!

There is something to be said for being discreet.

What is to be said?