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?

Type out a letter requesting hr supply sanitary products in female toilets..and baskets of condoms(to discourage the production)of mysoginy? then pass round for the lads to sign.
That said- is there really a requirement to parade period products?
Cant you just repeatedly hum the "oooooooo bodyform...for yoooooooo"earworm tune...
i prefer discretion. Howver i apply that to all "private business"(toilet tlk)
mostly-just becaause you can-doesnt mean you have to.
i think if you want to bang on about "equality" ..you have to take on board they didnt request you get one week in four off(the bastards) ..
Mostly..if your actions have led to multi-complaints n defined as upsetting(?)//unneecessary behaviour..you should take that on board.

I think your manager is right. I also hate them being on display in people's bathrooms. Same as a man leaving a pack of durex on his desk. Just no.

@woodhill

Why don't you keep it in your bag.

I'm from the generation where it was more taboo and prefer some discretion

Me too. I didn’t want to share the details of my menstrual cycle with my colleagues.

@alexdgr8

I agree and I can't imagine my dds especially ydd wanting to draw attention to themselves in this way

I work in a pretty male dominated industry and I can’t imagine any of my colleagues being phased by the sight of San pro. The problem is the continued secrecy around the whole issue largely perpetuated by women I imagine, has instilled in some people the idea it must never be mentioned. Imagine what it would be like if men had periods?

I voted YABU because it doesn't make sense. Unless you're lugging a box or a full packet of pads then who sees what is in your hand?
Are you leaving a little trail behind you like Hansel & Gretel? Are you leaving one on each desk you pass like a business card? Are you fashioning them into a handbag?
I just can't figure out how carrying a sanitary towel to the toilet can become a topic of conversation at work.

@Theunamedcat

This wouldn't be an issue if womens clothing had FUCKING BIG POCKETS

This is the point.

@Viviennemary

I think your manager is right. I also hate them being on display in people's bathrooms. Same as a man leaving a pack of durex on his desk. Just no.

Second time someone’s equated condoms and tampons on this thread, are you all OK?

@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?

She’s not walking naked with blood running down her legs through the office.

She’s walking with a sanitary towel in her hand.

Come on!

Do you wear a lanyard ?

Just thinking you could make an absolutely fabulous one from (new unused) tampons like a daisy chain…

Oh for God’s sake, it’s the 21st century; some of us have periods. It’s a fact of life. I’m 63 and never felt the need to hide it, those of you with your 1950’s sensibilities really need to grow up.

Same as a man leaving a pack of durex on his desk. Just no

It is nothing like this and the fact you think it is makes you part of the problem. Get a grip.

Maybe wear this

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.

Exactly this. I just hold it in my hand like I might hold a pen or something if I were off to a meeting. I decided ages ago that I shouldn't have to be hiding stuff like this. I'm not waving it about, but equally I shouldn't need to hide it all. A wrapped, unused sanitary pad or tampon isn't something to be uncomfortable about. We shouldn't have to pretend women don't menstruate. I work in a male-dominated organisation, but most of them are married to women, and quite a few have teenage daughters. They will know periods happen, and if they don't, they should. No one's complained, AFAIK. Good luck to them if they do.

@Thewindwhispers

To me, a clean sanitary towel is the same as clean loo roll: unremarkable and boring.

To my Irish relatives and also completely seperate Irish friends, sight of a sanitary towel is shocking and offensive and somehow similar to displaying condom packets and all bathrooms should keep sanitary items hidden in closed drawers or in baskets with lids. I don’t really get it but different families/cultures seem to see them very differently! 🤣🤷‍♀️

This is me!

I remember being sent to the shop by mammy with a note, it would be handed over to the shop keeper who would then give you the sanitary towels wrapped in newspaper!! 🤣

Even my boss wouldn't complain about that and he goes green if you mention periods. He does also do this if you mention any form of blood/injury/vomit so it's not limited to periods

@Theunamedcat

This wouldn't be an issue if womens clothing had FUCKING BIG POCKETS

@Theunamedcat Very valid point! I've started using my 9mo sons pockets. He currently has five actual deep pockets. I have two of those shitty things that think gravity is sideways.

I am horrified by how many women posting on this are misogynistic.

There is nothing wrong with periods.
They are a natural process.
Stop acting like they are shameful because they aren’t.

Read Period by Emma Barnett - we have to tackle period shame because it leads to harmful behaviours, shames girls into thinking it is disgusting and wrong and means issues like period poverty don’t get the attention they deserve.

They must lead very uninteresting lives if this is something they have time to complain about, OP.
That or they're actual children.

I'm not sure what generation everyone who hides it is from but my father is 70 and used to (shock horror) buy it for his wife and teenage daughters

Unless your using maternity size pads they are not really that obvious in your hand so they need to be paying extremely close attention to what your doing and where your going

I use reusable towels and the fold in in themselves and snap shut, even if used they wouldn’t be obvious… that said, I do put them in a bag… but clean unused towels I totally agree with you!

@stuntbubbles

Taking it in an envelope is my favourite suggestion: would this be an envelope from home? Or misappropriation of office stationery? What if OP put the envelope back in the stationery cupboard afterwards and a man had to touch the towel taint? Who takes AN ENVELOPE to the loos except maybe a crap spy doing a thoroughly indiscreet document drop? Does she bring the envelope back out afterwards, or leave everyone wondering where it went?

You could helpfully write:

I’M ON MY PERIOD, !

in red sharpie on the envelope

I think it’s a bit unnecessary to walk across an office holding sanitary towels. Likewise if someone didn’t like toilet paper, and walked across the office with a pack of wet wipes, allowing everyone to know they were going for a poo. Unnecessary. Yes, it’s natural bodily functions but that doesn’t mean the entire office needs to be involved

Deffo one of these ]] as WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe said. Then the men will be safe.

Get a mooncup and keep it on your desk. It's a handy little pen holder for the rest of the month