why are periods used as an insult/put down?

[SlainteBooyFeckingHoo]

used to embarass women and 'win' an argument?

maybe because if it IS used against us women, we almost always back down and therefore 'lose' that argument?

time to take our periods back, don't you think? in the same way as using the word 'cunt'

it has been used today by someone to try and shut me up. i have thought up a great response but i haven't posted it as i think it would be wasted.

i am not embarassed about my period but i know that many many women are and i hate that. why on earth should this natural bodily function be used to shame us?

i say something like 'yes, that's right, i wait every 4 weeks to disagree with you...and then [yawn] at them

was this by a man or another woman?
it is pretty bullying behaviour, come to think of it.

I never used to understand why it is such a taboo; now I suppose it is because the taboo comes from the patriarchy not from women themselves even though it always seemed like it was from women because they were the ones being all secretive about it.

and the link between the lunar cycle and witchcraft hasn't travelled particularly well in some circles

a man. a man who i have already told i consider a sexist. unfortunately his level of intellect does not allow him to understand the connection between making sexist comments and being called a sexist.

"So that means men act like you every day of the month, then?"

yea I agree its also as an insult towards men like , manperiod , IYSWIM another way of using being female an insult

It's belittling, like you can't have valid feelings, you must just be hormonal. My mum uses it all the time, not deliberately as an insult but when she can't understand why I am upset.

i am having a go slow day but can you explain that one please teitetua? i dont understand what you mean by it.

the context it was used in today wasn't in a "you are hormonal your feelings dont count" way.

it was basically thrown out in the hope of making me think "OMG he just told the world i had periods i want to die. i will withdraw from this conversation right away"

pretty much as if he thought "this girl is irritating me, i know what will make her go away"

"Oh, are you on the blob?"

"Irrelevant question as I find you tedious all month long."

You won't change him, Boo. People like him wear their neanderthal badge with pride.

In all my 50 years I've never once come across this phenomenon.

Bizarre. I would imagine the 'why' is, because you were talking to an immature chap with no logical arguments.

I have never come across this.

On many occasions, however, I have heard women say things like 'oo, look out if it's the time of the month', or 'three girls in the house, it's hell for dh once a month' and such like.

It really irritates me.

oh i know that ayerobot, i have altered my FB settings so that he no longer sees any of my status updates or posts. it was a status update and conversation with another friend that he intervened on only to drop in his little comment. he cant help himself it's who he is. he doesn't like women.

AyeRobot pretty much got what I meant--it's saying women might (in his tiny mind) act badly on account of their periods, but he evidently acts like a twit all the time.

This is all school-playground stuff though. Adults shouldn't be doing it.

Because who use it as an insult are nasty ignorant, bastards.

ah right, yes i understand now.

i agree, adults shouldn't be doing it. i was having a conversation with anotehr friend via my own wall on FB and this guy interupted to post his rubbish. he wasn't part of the conversation nor was he invited to join. he wont be able to do it anymore.

Jesus. That kind of behaviour would never be tolerated at my place - if someone even suggested to me that I was being irrational because of my period I would (metaphorically) freeze their nuts off.

And ironically, I think PMT has contributed to some of my behaviour at work recently and I contemplated mentioning it as a stress factor when trying to resolve things. I didn't in the end - but not through embarrassment, it just proved not to be necessary. I would have expected it to have been treated respectfully if I had, just like the other stress factors in my life.

The one thing I do do, that I always wonder why, is take my handbag to the loo when I have to change a sanitary towel. So as not to carry it in plain sight. Admittedly I can't really imagine a guy carrying Preparation H or similar to the loo if need be, but it is slightly weird.

Someone one Mumsnet once said 'Have you a Mooncup about your person?' It was funny.
but I think the person she said it to was a mate.

oh i like that seth!! it is totally different when a friend can tell you are more stressy than usual and asks if it is a hormonal stress. but when someone says it to belittle what you are saying and embarass you it is totally unacceptable. to me anyway.

Slainte - that's what I think.

Pointydog - why does it irritate you when women talk about PMT like that? I suffer with PMT and I do feel sorry for DH when I get it, and I worry about what life will be like for him when all of the 5 females in our household are suffering from PMT at the same time!

However, there is a world of difference between me saying 'Sorry I'm ratty - my period is due' and someone patronisingly saying 'you're being very hormonal' and that is the issue IMO. And also, a close friend saying 'you seem very tense at the moment - are you ok?', knowing that it might be PMT, is a kind thing to do.

StewieGriffinsMom - I hate all Always ads. In protest to their "have a happy period" slogan I bought a mooncup.