Paying for swimming lessons in a block/ periods

[Aquifolium]

Hi,

My daughter’s have attended swimming lessons at the local pool for many years. Their attendance has always been spot on. Now they have started their periods they are missing one or 2 sessions a month.
I have contacted the manager to ask if there has been any thought out into this phenomenon, and the reply is of course, they can use tampons, which are perfectly safe.

I wasn’t addressing this issue in a ‘what are you going to do about it’ kind of way, but the dismissive response I have had from the manager has pissed me off.
I feel that my daughters are at a disadvantage now, and that I am paying out for lessons (block booking only)they can’t take up.
Has anyone else done anything about this issue before? Got anywhere?
TIA

Thought put into this

Why can’t they use tampons though??

No, you’re paying for the slot. They can’t pop another child into that slot because your child might have a period.

I really can’t see your rationale at all.
I never missed a swimming session due to my period.

Seriously Tampons or a cup of course, no way are you entitled to a refund or rearrangement

They don’t want to use tampons.

If my children were boys, they wouldn’t be missing half their lessons. I think it is an equality issue that the pricing structure doesn’t take into account that girls who start their periods may need to take time off.

Interesting that comments so far suggest that 12 yr olds should be using tampons or cups.

I feel they shouldn’t be pushed into a more involved way of managing their bleeding until they ask for it. They know they can use tampons if they like. They don’t like.

I see your point. Girls of that age are statistically more likely to miss lessons than boys. But there isn't anything you can really do. As a PP said, you can't pop another child in that spot once a month so you have to pay to hold your place in that group.

And if you did offer a discount to girls, do you offer it to all girls or do you interview them and only offer it to those who can confirm that they have started their periods but won't be using a tampon/cup?

I can see this - younger girls can struggle with tampons at first - I know I did, although I didn't have swimming lessons.

I do think this is a symptom of the patriarchy, not thinking about the lives of women/girls - but I'm at a loss as to what could be done about it, because as others have said, they want to fill the slot with paying customers, and I do think, that outside of girls with very heavy periods for whom it might be impossible to have an hour's lesson without leaking, it is something that girls need to learn how to cope with, so they don't miss out.

But what do you expect them to do about it? Just let you not pay for the lessons your dds miss, leaving them/the swimming teacher unpaid?

They also need to learn to get on with life whilst on their periods.

I’m a swimming teacher I teach in the water and use tampons no issue.

Don't be ridicilous.

They are making a choice.

Why should the cost of classes go up for everyone else - both girls and boys to accomodate a choice? Especially if there are others in the class who make the choice to attend.

Your children aren't missing the class because they are girls. They are missing the class because they don't want to make a choice that every other girl in the class is making in order to go.

It is not an equality issue that you are enabling them to make excuses not to go.

I’m not sure what the solution to the problem is. That’s why I’m posting on here. In case anybody else has already come across this and thought about it/ discussed it. I’m not sure how you solve the problem, based on the idea that individuals must pay for a slot.
I get that under capitalism I have to pay for the slot, but I think it’s unfair that the girls at the pool are missing out on a lot of the lessons and nobody seems to care.

It is not just my daughters who miss swimming, as a pp said, I think if the statistics were available it would show that the girls were subsidising the boys having a smaller class size.

Yes, they are at a disadvantage if they're missing up to 50% of a physical activity they presumably enjoy. If only there were a solution, and a grown up, like maybe, I dunno, a parent in their lives who could teach and encourage them how to get on with important things while having their period. Or if that's really not possible, to help them find anther sport.

It's part of having periods if they won't use tampons. I don't see any way around it.

I would never suggest they 'should' use tampons regardless of their age but if they don't use tampons then they can't swim unfortunately.

One thing that we women have to overcome & manage are these exact 'inequalities'.
Businesses have to fill their slots,, that's how they offer their services 8 pay their bills,
To be fair, tampons/cups are realistic and we all, as we started our periods, had to make it work around our hobbies and things - it's what we have to do as women.

they need to learn how to get on with life with their periods. Immediately, with no allowances given for getting used to their new bodily functions etc. Hmm. I think that’s a bit harsh.

Do they still need swimming lessons at that age? If they can swim, stop the lessons til they are ready for tampons. Or teach them to swim younger. This really is a non issue. Bigger fish to fry, really.

Are they twins? And did they start their periods at the same time? I ask because I'm wondering how long the adjustment is taking.

If my children were boys, they wouldn’t be missing half their lessons

This is true. But he girls are not missing lessons because of anything the swim school has done. It's not their fault nor their responsibility.

If people start this ridiculous nonsense there really will be a gender issue because swim schools will have to say no to girls. You pay for the slot. Same with any other activity. If you don't attend you don't attend.

Trying to make this a feminist issue just makes a mockery out of genuine feminist issues.

So it’s up to women to learn to manage inequalities, not to expose them and ask for discussion to bring about solutions?

So it’s up to women to learn to manage inequalities, not to expose them and ask for discussion to bring about solutions?

Yawn.

Ds and dd swim 4 times a week with club and although we've not yet had this issue I can see there will be times dd does less than ds and it hadn't even occurred to me to expect a reduction. I'll offer dd tampons or a night off if necessary but lots of the older girls manage ok and are definitely not shy as they shout round changing rooms for spare tampons!

Well, you have to help yourself sometimes. And not cry inequality at everything. Or you make a mockery of actual issues.

One of DD's friends' mum once pulled out of taking them swimming because she was 'on'. I was astonished that she didn't just use a tampon but maybe nobody explained them to her at a young age. You don't want your daughters to be held back by a period. Unless they have heavy day they could probably do a half hour lesson without a pad in anyway, as the cold water stems the flow