Period talk event...men invited and I feel weird about that

[MinesaBottle]

I’m going to an IWD event at work this week, it’s about periods (period poverty, sustainable sanpro, menopause, dealing with periods at work and other topics). I’ve just found out that it’s also open to men...now I’m not sure I want to go as I don’t feel very comfortable talking about some aspects of periods with men, particularly ones I don’t know very well!

I get that they’re trying to be inclusive but surely there could be another way of informing men about period issues? I guess I’m also concerned that any men who attend will do the usual thing of taking over the discussion, making it about them etc. I’d still like to attend but I’m also nervous that if I object I’ll be piled on to, there are some women who think it’s just amazing that men want to get involved in these things. There’s a guy who is writing an article about sanpro for some magazine (!) and rather than advising him that a real ally would suggest a woman write it, some women are fawning over how great that is.

I wish we could just have one thing to ourselves without men coming in and grandstanding, or am I being mean and pessimistic and non-inclusive?

I was raised to think periods are embarrassing and I even felt the need tk hide them from my father and brother. I’m so proud of the younger generation of women who are promoting confidence about periods and encouraging women not to feel ashamed about them. I now realise that the way I felt about my period was sill, and I did not need to feel ashamed. I’d like to see more women feel confident about talking about this. By saying it’s sill, I didn’t mean to be dismissive of how others feel (but I can see it came across that way). What I was trying say is that we should not be made to feel that way. Being open about periods is really important because it will help remove the stigma that has stopped many women from getting the medical help they have needed in the past. It’s such an ordinary part of life I think it’s really positive to include men in these discussions. To me it showshow far we’ve come from the daya where periods could never be mentioned in front of men.

*silly, not sill!

Wanting privacy is not the same as being ashamed or embarrassed.

While I accept that men need to learn more about the effects periods can have on women at work, I see no reason why they should be included in the discussion. They have nothing to discuss.

A separate talk with a Q&A aimed specifically at men would be better.

Should’ve replied earlier, things have just been busy! It actually went really well; only one man turned up and he was very respectful and just listened really. There was a lot of talk about endometriosis and pain and heavy bleeding so I think it may have been quite eye opening for him. Lots of women of different ages came and it was actually really liberating to talk about this stuff. Now the work begins on how to continue and talk about how we can ensure issues with periods aren’t just dismissed.

I’m glad I went, I had nothing to worry about in the end.

Nice one OP, pleased it went well, and thank you for the update :)

Kudos to the women who went & discussed openly and also to lone respectful man for sitting quietly :)

I can't imagine any men taking over the conversation of periods! Yeh they might ask questions and join in conversations but all I hear is that men don't understand what we women go through and how nothing is equal so surely this is a good start? I wouldn't have an issue with it

MinesaBottle great news.

TulipsTulipsTulips I don't think women should be embarrassed about talking about periods. But bodily functions really are not everyone's cup of tea.

Sorry if I sounded many!