Dundee man leads fight against period poverty

[PrimAndProperPearlClutcher]

“It’s about making people aware of the availability of period products for anyone of any gender, whenever they need it.

... '“I was chosen as the best person for the job and for me, it’s irrespective of gender.

“Having a guy can’t be a bad thing – it grabs the headlines, but that’s not the reason I was put into post!” Jason continues.

“For me it’s about driving the discussion from a young age so boys and girls are included and there’s no hiding it away because that keeps it as a taboo topic.

“I want to be seen as a positive male role model.”'

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/3593497/dundee-man-leading-period-poverty-fight-how-to-get-free-products/

I'm sure he's probably a nice bloke. He's worked in University where everyone lives in a bubble of safe rightthink.

Outwith that bubble; most women and girls are affronted, and probably at least a bit pissed off at this appointment.

Unqualified and frankly odd.

I saw this yesterday and wondered how is 'period dignity' going to be achieved if a 12 year old girl with a chaotic home life, or a conservatively religious one, is going to have to talk to a man about her period poverty.

I hope this is just a campaigning role but, even then, so many women have a track record of campaigning on this issue. I guess the female candidates committed the terrible sin of not mentioning men enough in their interview.

So no male doctors, nurses, or biology teachers then? They all will probably have to talk to young girls about periods in some form at one point or another.

If that’s the reason they got into the job, then hell no they should not be allowed to do it.

Talking to young girls about periods is probably 0.0001% of their job.

Talking to young girls about periods is probably 0.0001% of their job.

Yes, exactly. It’s a completely nonsensical comparison to make.

I went hunting to see how he was "raising the profile" - every post he makes is all about him.

Try finding actual information about how the scheme works, how the data captured on the periodapp will be managed, how budgeting works, what are the choices of products included in the scheme, do they include products such as unbleached/unperfumed for women who need them, do they put any limits on product quantities...

Nothing. Every post is about him.

Scotland is ripping the piss out of women in every possible way. The article read like an piece from the Onion. It can't be parodied it is so absurd.

I also hate the way we're constantly told by these young people who think they invented the wheel that periods are TABOO.

No they effing aren't. They haven't been for years. Menstruation is freely and easily talked about, just not with male feminists. Barf!

I have a close friend who is not English, I know absolutely that she would never ask a man anything to do with periods, she is very very private, it would have to be a woman.

She can't be alone, there must be a large number of women and young girls who would be horrified at this.

Is this about challenging boundaries, again? Specifically women's boundaries? Will we be made to feel that if we are uncomfortable discussing our bodies, our periods, with a male that it is us who is at fault, that we are failing for not being open enough, relaxed enough?

How are the people who put this man in place going to deal with women who don't want to talk to a man about these things? Women of faith who have religious reasons for not doing so?

When they say 'dignity' do they actually mean normalising women's wants to not talk about their bodies being dismissed? Are we being 'educated' to disregard our own feelings about wanting things to be single sex?

Is this all about overcoming women's boundaries YET AGAIN?

Talking to young girls about periods is probably 0.0001% of their job.

'You had one job...'

Is the key thing about the role marketing skills? Because it's a poor marketing step to alienate the people you should be focussed on.
Is the key element experience? Because, well yeah.
Is it being approachable for your client base?

What key skill does he have? Cos I can see a lot he doesn't.

It's another firm no from me.

I can only imagine him talking to me as a 13 year old girl having started my periods - this would have sent me into further retreat.

Like to see him educate this 49 year old woman on perimenopsuse though, what with his lived experience and all.

One thing that a man might be able to actually advise on is males with paraphilias and how to spot them, how that interacts with women's spaces, services, and how to safeguard against that.

I will be curious to see how the outcry is responded to.

Any bets on the number of times we'll hear 'pearl clutching' or similar?

I wouldn't absolutely rule out a man ever taking on a role like this. But I would like to see substantial evidence that they are specifically and uniquely qualified for it.

Along the lines of Prof Sir Robert Winston never having been pregnant himself, but having spent decades in fertility research and therefore knowing a thing or two about IVF.

I'll give you £10 on 'prudes' on Twitter by lunchtime.

That picture of him and another bloke explaining perid products to a teen girl and her mum 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

scotlands women and girls being trolled

and he uses the any gender can have periods. Ffs. When will this madness and lies stop

"Lived experience" is such a buzzword these days. It's hard to get your novel published if the characters are of a different ethnicity to the author. But women's unique physical experiences? Come on in blokey, do tell us all about it!

The picture.

Ridiculous. I don't know why I'm even surprised. Sturgeon's Scotland erasing women again!

Maybe a man CAN do the job but I would have thought one with a background in women’s reproductive health would be the best person for the job or someone who actually understands the mechanics etc of periods would be better than some woke bro who has experience in student issues

That picture had to be a parody. Maybe delivered by The League of Gentlemen's 'Legs A kimbo' theatre company?

Sadly, the joke's on females.

They really are trolling Scottish girls and women. Who doesn't want a beardo mainsplaining how 'all genders' menstruate?

Has...

I think when it's more to do with living with periods and practical questions, it's probably better to have someone who's been through it rather than read about it in a book. It's the subtle nuances that I think makes the difference - things that a man may not ever have considered, such as coming out of a toilet cubicle with blood on your hands etc. Pure medical information can be delivered well by either sex (from someone qualified as opposed to a dude who worked in a college), but I think it's the understanding of how periods affects you on a more pragmatic level which might be more useful. Not to mention more reassuring.

But, having said that, I think you're right and that a man who is uniquely and specially qualified, and has the right attitude for the role could be OK. @Beowulfa makes an excellent comment above along those lines. While I would always prefer a woman, not least because it makes it more accessible for certain ethnic groups etc, there are some men who are supremely qualified to discuss women's biology and have demonstrated that they are a true ally. Sir Robert Winston is a brilliant example of this with ref to fertility.