Sorry for the second thread in one day!
To give you a little background, I am in my 30s and never really saw myself as a feminist, in fact I suppose I thought for a long time feminism was a negative word!
Its only now that I am realising how many times my life has been harder as a woman that it would have been as a man. I have found whilst working as a manager and in sales I have been expected to act a certain way or had comments that men would never receive.
I have also been concerned for a long time about how toys are very much aimed at boys or girls now and not at children.
Anyway to the point of my thread...
I went through puberty very early, I started my periods aged 10 and it was awful. Even though my mother had talked to me about them I had no idea what was going on and remember being terrified when I started my periods.
I was in year 5 at the time and couldn't tell anyone else about it as I thought I would be teased.
My Mum asked the school where I could change my sanitary towel and was told I would have to use the teachers bathroom which she complained about as it would make me stick out and other children would ask.
I had fully developed breasts and the school uniform made them look huge, I remember the boys teasing me about it.
We also had to all get changed in the same room as the boys for PE and when some of the girls complained the male teacher told us to stop making such a big fuss.
As secondary school I dreaded PE not because of playing sport (i loved that) but the changing rooms. Changing in a huge room with other girls, being forced to shower together - one PE teacher said she would watch us to make sure we all showered, which led to my Mum complaining to the school! Bless my mum. Oh and having to wear PE pants and a small top in front of boys, no wonder all the girls hated PE!
The only positive I remember was having to give a letter to my teacher in year 7 saying I wouldnt be taking a shower will the class due to being on my period. She was a scary PE teacher and I was terrified as I handed over the letter but she smiled kindly at me and told me that was fine and in the future to just come and speak to her rather than bring in a letter. For some reason I thought she was going to tell the whole class!
So, are things better now? Do they have facilities at primary school and more understanding teachers and are changing rooms at secondary school better?