Boys can have periods! The Times

[feministfairy]

The Times continuing with their sterling work highlighting the abusive gaslighting that some trans organisations are aiming at young children:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boys-can-have-periods-too-primary-pupils-are-taught-hg5lb85mp?shareToken=bf028da27e4885097916a2efdd3e5b19

@Igneococcus in England, it's on the curriculum for Y3, which is 7 and 8 year olds. The idea is NOT to see who gets their period and then, oops, we'd better tell everyone about it. The idea is to tell the girls (at least) about it before any of them could possibly get it (I'm not sure if 8 counts as early enough to be unusually early).
Also, waiting till one girl gets their period before teaching about it means that the class will assume one or more girls have it and will try and guess.
P7 is quite late for only one girl to have her period.

Obviously, a girl couldn't make her own mind up!

Reminds me of this.

www.comedycentral.co.uk/inside-amy-schumer/videos/birth-control

It does seem late Drspouse I agree but this is what happened at my dc's primary. They might well have talked about it before in some way but a lesson where they were seperated into male and female groups and talked about puberty was at the end of P6 for ds, he was 10.5 at the time.

For the first time, I'm glad DS1 is at an all boys' school (no trans boys in attendance) that seems to have swerved all this ridiculous shite. They still seem to take actual, real, biological science seriously!

we must ask why certain adults wish to confuse children by pretending that there is no distinction between the sexes

Yes, we really must.

As well as constantly remind children and the general public that a group saying something frequently, with authority, still doesn't make it true.

Brighton and Hove council defended its guidance, saying... some people who have periods are trans or non-binary

This part is true. However those people are biologically women and girls by sex, and their chosen gender identity is additional to their sex. It's no problem to cater for this group without stepping from that truth into a bare faced, manipulative and politically motivated lie involving children, such as 'boys have periods', or erasing the reality of women and girls.

Well done The Times. This batshit must be patiently and repeatedly called out for what it is.

This is so damaging, so confusing for children. The other day DD, DS and me we're walking to the park and she initiated a game in which I was to be the mummy and DS the daddy. She was to be the dog. When I asked if DS could be a dog too ( he wanted to be) she said no, because it's a girl dog and DS is a boy so he has to be a daddy. She's five. She understands biology. Understanding biology is one of the many ways she is learning to make sense of the world, and she incorporates this learning into her play all the time. It occurred to me that for a trusted adult, a teacher or and educator (say someone brought into school to talk to the children), to teach that actually a boy can be a girl and vice versa would actually be very destabilising. It would undermine her current efforts to "make sense" of the world around her and her place in it. This is what all children do and is a normal part of their development.

It makes me angry that children are being encouraged to question themselves and being taught this ideological crap that flies in the face of science. Who sanctions this? It's disturbing, actually.

Meanwhile somewhere north of Hadrian’s Wall...

I really think this could freak some boys out! Your average boy will not be conversant with the mental gymnastics required to make sense of the statement 'boys can have periods' and if it's a teacher saying it, they might reasonably expect it to be true and will spend the next few years worried every time they go to the toilet! Because they won't have the basic biological knowledge PLUS assertive common sense to dismiss the statement. Good luck with this, teachers of Brighton!

"Educate to Liberate"

Educate whom about what? Educate children about stereotypes? Teach them the oh-so-liberating view that if you conform to a specific stereotype you must be a specific thing, regardless of material reality and biological fact?

Or educate that stereotypes don't matter, and that liking pink, or disliking your body, do not affect your sex or change you in any way?

Ffs. I’m hacked off that they arent pushing ‘live and let live’ or ‘we are all entitled to live our lives’ or even ‘we are all gods little sunrays’.

Where were these do gooders when gay kids and teens were being bullied? Or disabled kids? Or even kids with glasses? No-bloody-where.

Will they also educate that boys can have periods and TWAW? Why not throw in a bit of creationism whilst they are at it and flat earth theory?

One snif of the highly organised trand juggernaut, and all of a sudden it’s great to be trans (to paraphrase - who was that again? Pop star who decided that he was very very gay indeed - then he wasn’t at all)

Actually tho we were told you couldn’t wash your hair when you had your period

How ... was that supposed to work?
The period is in your pants, the hair is on your head, so what exactly did they say the connection was? Was washing hands also taboo, or just hair? What allegedly happened if you did wash your hair during your period?

If people believed that, then perhaps it is not so surprising they now believe that boys can have periods.

(I am, again, surprised that we feminists are the ones accused of hating men. Scaring young boys by telling them that they might get periods is just cruel. Genderists seem to worship adult males but hate young boys. Hm, well, it is called patriarchy, rule of the father, for a reason.)

Just in case anyone's interested, a link to the actual report is here:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pupils-8-told-boys-can-13740888.amp

I would just like to point out that the report does not say 'boys can have periods'. It says 'trans boys and non-binary people may have periods.' which you may not like, but is true.

I'm on the fence, but I think the headline is misleading.

How are 8 year olds supposed to understand that "trans boys" aren't a subcategory of boys, but a subcategory of girls?

My parents have problems grasping that ridiculous concept.

So it doesn't really make a difference imo.

Ok, sorry, misread, they might not be 8 years old, but really ... even teens could misunderstand that.

It's simply, no no no.

Boys get erections.
Transboys get periods.
Girls get periods.
Transgirls get erections.

(Obviously under the eye of Mermaids, transgirls do not get erections because they never mature and transboys do not get periods because they never mature.)

In biology classes of all places language needs to be clear about biological functions and differences between the sexes.
Why is fucking up childen so high on the agenda right now?

Christ Fekko. Slightly concerned about what the new measures might be.

My oldest is only P5 and I'm hoping it's a while before I hear any of this guff from them.

Absolutely correct VeggyGravy, this is an issue only needing to be discussed between mother and daughter, it is a female issue nothing to do with men. Does using a tampon break the hymen? In which case thousands of girls are doing it every day. In some cultures girls and women's bodies are still under male control.

Schools should be teaching biological facts in a way that children can understand. Confusing them with some boys having periods is not helpful. Females have periods, males don't. How you choose to identify is irrelevant.

How are 8 year olds supposed to understand that "trans boys" aren't a subcategory of boys, but a subcategory of girls?

According to trans ideology, transboys are a subcategory of boys. After all, 'TWAW'.

Schools should be teaching the scientific facts behind biology, not some nonsensical feelings about gender.

I would just like to point out that the report does not say 'boys can have periods'. It says 'trans boys and non-binary people may have periods.' which you may not like, but is true.

I have copied and pasted the Brighton and Hove schools policy. To be fair, it's part of a larger document that talks about women, but the bit that relates to menstruation and schools is confusing.

Schools are encouraged to say

‘girls and women and others who have periods’, which is not true. People who have periods are women.

There is no point trying to be 'period positive' if you can't talk about the biological traits that women share, but instead talk about 'gender'. Why on earth would you have single 'gender' sessions to talk about periods?

present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Published/C00000968/M00009226/$$Supp30547dDocPackPublic.pdf

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

1. The #periodpositive charter approach in Brighton & Hove Schools

#periodpositive and the #periodpositive charter programme have been developed by Chella Quint In a #periodpositive school:  Periods are talked about in schools openly and without stigma or shame, and staff receive targeted training to ensure this is supported school-wide  The school regularly audits the ease of menstruation management and makes improvements according to pupil need, including providing information about reusable and disposable menstrual products or the products themselves as appropriate, and this provision is promoted and known about by all.  All pupils and students from year 4 receive age and development appropriate period education within a planned programme of relationships and sex education.  Pupils with very early onset puberty and trans pupils and students are provided with additional support perhaps from a school nurse, if needed.  Learning about periods is seen to be of benefit to all genders.  When appropriate and with careful management single gender sessions are provided for in depth, safe discussion about managing periods. Pupils and students are involved in developing learning about periods and puberty along with staff, who will receive support to write lessons using best practice. Lessons are unbranded, taught by trained staff, factually accurate, up-to-date and well-researched, with learners’ needs in mind, and regularly evaluated with pupils and students.  There is excellent communication to other members of the school community including, parents and carers about the content of lessons.  Lessons include the biological, social, emotional and practical elements of having and managing a period and including self-care and menstrual well-being.  Lessons on periods complement lessons on body parts, puberty, human reproduction fertility, puberty and reproductive health, with an awareness of physiological differences and medical conditions related to reproductive health and healthy menstrual cycles.  There is a cross-curricular approach to learning about periods, particularly in science and PSHE but also in media studies, PE, maths, graphics, and textiles Appendix 1   493  Adults avoid the language of ‘sanitary hygiene’, ‘sanitary products’ and refer instead to periods and menstruation, pads and menstrual products.  Language and learning about periods is inclusive of all genders, cultures, faiths and sexual orientations. For example; ‘girls and women and others who have periods’.  Adults adapt learning so that it meets the needs of SEND pupils and students and seek expert advice if needed for example to support children with sensory needs or physical impairments.  There are links to information about periods on the school website for parents and carers so that they can support this learning, and additional training opportunities offered for staff and parents. Key messages for learning about periods:  Periods are a natural and normal part of the menstrual cycle and of human development and growth.  Periods should not stop someone from doing things they usually do, but might be a time to focus more on self-care and menstrual well-being.  Periods are not dirty, disgusting or something to be ashamed of or embarrassed by.  Periods contain blood and tissue but this is different to bleeding from a cut or injury.  Periods can be something to celebrate and we can see this in ceremonies and celebrations across the world.  Most people who have periods, leak onto their clothes at some point.  There are a range of menstrual products available, including reusable products such as menstrual cups, period pants, and washable pads.  Menstrual products should be changed regularly.  Menstrual products should be disposed of appropriately, in a bin, not down the toilet.  Trans boys and men and non-binary people may have periods.  It’s ok to ask questions about periods (and signpost the staff who can offer support.)  If periods are difficult to manage or very painful, seek help from the school nurse or a doctor. Methods for challenging stigma and shame:  Develop positive messages (such as the ones above) and build self-esteem and period confidence.  Explore feelings of embarrassment and develop coping strategies.  Explore the social media campaign for the period emoji in challenging stigma and embarrassment.  Grow a critical awareness of any euphemisms or tactics of shame used in marketing of period products.  Support a pupil or student who experiences a leak or a stain on their clothes and safely challenge any unsupportive reactions.  Be aware that some abusive behaviours such as ‘skirt lifting’, ‘upskirting’ or ‘groping’ may cause even greater impact on those with a period.  Consider using older students to support younger ones with menstruation management.

The policy has been developed by Chella Quint, who seems to be fairly sane in this article:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/16/free-tampons-schoolgirls-menstruation-period-education

It's just that for some reason when feminism and trans ideology clash, women lose. There is awareness that women are disadvantaged by having periods, but because it's rude to explain who women are it's very difficult to see how progress can be made.

Discussing this on BBC radio Scotland just now....

Well it was announced but I missed whether it was talked about. 😳