BBC: Trans man says he locked himself away over period

[RoyalCorgi]

I love and value the BBC. But in what sense is this a news story? Not only is it not news (ie it is about as consequential as reporting 'Middle-aged woman says she struggles with the remote control'), it is also exceptionally stupid.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c704pngr33yo

Meh. Periods are shit, I hate my time of month.
Is it really a biggie to have an array of pants?
Never really thought about the underwear aspect before as never really had to, but you'd have thought there would be some less "feminine" styles (for want of a better word) around for those who want them.
Maybe a gap in the market!

WTF? What absolute naval gazing horseshit.

As for the pants nonsense - there are plenty of period pants and knickers options including boxers. Have been for years. There is no gap in the bloody market.

This is just more of Operation "Let Them Speak" showing the scale of the associated mental health issues.

I had assumed that FTM transgender people would take medication to stop their periods. Clearly not. I wonder why not? Surely if you feel you are innately male you would try to shut off the female hormones in your body.

I think reading between the lines that the person is bemoaning the lack of period pants that have built in 'packers' ie a facsimile bollcks and penis in the padding at the front.

This article falls under the general umbrella of 'periods are shit'.

but instead of moaning about it, why not get on to the period pant manufacturers and ask them to make some? I'm sure the market is there.

If the market isn't there - then adapt regular period pants, or your regular packer-pants (whatever they would be) etc etc

Do you know when i really wanted to hide because i got my period? out in a field with 20 soldiers for 6 weeks and if they found your stash of tampons they wore them as earrings.

ETA: adding a bit of sympathy - why the heck aren't trans men given way more information about what happens afterwards? i'm guessing this is "only" a social transition (i hope it stays that way). But surely you can take some kind of hormones to stop your periods? Having said that, i can understand not wanting to, i hated taking hormones hence having periods in the middle of a military exercise. In the winter, when the ground was REALLY hard.

She wouldn’t be the only woman who stays at home during their period. It’s hardly news.

After taking testosterone, he said: "I'm very lucky my periods have stopped, but they could come back, I won't know or have any warnings."
Really? your periods come back, randomly? not very effective, is it?

Is this article is the BBC's 'antidote' to the Keira Bell article
Keira Bell launches bid to ban cross-sex hormones for under-18s | Mumsnet
which was broadly welcomed for its fact-based coverage of transitioning?
That was clearly way too much bandying about of facts for the trans lobby, hence this report on the paucity of LGBTQ++ venues in Llanelli, and underwear issues.

This sort of story worries me, how many female people transition because they imagine all the real women are leaping about saying "hooray I've got titties! and my lovely period!!"

These people are so self absorbed it is terrifying. Why would a woman with short hair have to put on a fake deep voice to go to the shops in <checks notes> Wales? What would the people in her town do if they realised that she was a woman with short hair? Shrug? Certainly I don’t think violence would be top of their list.

How does a woman shoving a prosthetic penis down her pants reduce the risk of violence? Men are statistically more likely to be victims of attacks from strangers, although I expect most people would clock her as female despite the packer.

My DD has camo boxer-style period pants, as she loves camo. DH actually threw them on his pile of pants the other day (it was dimly lit & he wasn’t really paying attention). The idea that there are only frilly knickers for women ludicrous.

I hear you OP it is mad.

It seems there is a school of thought which holds both the following positions simultaneously:

A woman with trauma who wants to be in a female only space to get support is told to "reframe" her trauma.

A woman with dysphoria who is upset by wearing women's pants while on her period needs support to avoid and alter the source of her discomfort.

I am not belittling anyone's suffering, neither am I saying the two situations are the same. I am just saying it is frustrating that people can follow an ideology which makes no sense. Not only that but they wish to structure society by it.

Why would a woman with short hair have to put on a fake deep voice to go to the shops in <checks notes> Wales?

Er, they don't. It's still perfectly fine to be a woman with short hair, you don't "get transed" or something and have to put on a deep voice to go to the shops! 😕
If you identify as a trans man it's not exactly hard to understand that they might feel differently though.

but instead of moaning about it, why not get on to the period pant manufacturers and ask them to make some? I'm sure the market is there

Maybe they have? It's possible to raise awareness and do something about it at the same time.

https://www.secrethevan.com/

Problem solved

I knew I'd seen them somewhere

Stand by to be amazed when you hear about Freddie McConnell.

There was some discussion of this article on the BBC WTF thread yesterday:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5052273-bbc-wtf?page=7

It’s basically a PR puff piece for a trans-identified male and his charity/underwear company. Not really a great use of the license fee but hey …

I am just saying it is frustrating that people can follow an ideology which makes no sense. Not only that but they wish to structure society by it.

What an excellent summing up in two sentences all that is wrong with gender ideology!
Two sentences - I would burble on for paragraphs [and probably have on FWR!] to express the same thoughts, especially 'Not only that but they wish to structure society by it.' Spot on - that's how it has become a huge social, legislative and political issue.

If you ever have to 'describe yourself in 6 words' on an application form, CuriousAlien, you can write SUCCINCT.

Modibodi already does period pants with, and I quote, a "Front pouch (which) can be worn with or without packer" - "Pride Longline Short'.

Stick a mooncup in, job done. And there are plenty of male absorbent pants - for incontinence but they're the same.

well if they had they wouldn't be able to moan to the press?

It is fucking infuriating. This isn't even an actual problem - this person doesn't actually currently have periods.

How about we concentrate our period attention on period poverty? how about that. Instead of yet again havin the focus of the press on these non-problems?

So the person who wrote the article could have interviewed Jay-Harley and then said-
'Nah, you're all right mate - here's where you can buy the kind of underwear you need. And you now have a 'safe space' in a café in Llanelli. And you don't have to put on a deep voice when you go shopping cos some men don't have deep voices. And shops in Llanelli are known to serve women with short hair. So basically you're sorted. Oh shit, there goes my article..'

Packing underwear are boxer shorts which allow a prosthetic or foam cup insert to create a "bulge" which can alleviate gender dysphoria and keep people safe, they said.

I don't want to pick the whole article apart. But.

Hehe thanks @MarieDeGournay

I'm not at all clear on why they couldn't just put wingless pads into a pair of boxers or y-fronts. I've never bought knickers especially to accommodate period products and the vast majority of my pants are boxer/boy short style.

It all comes across as hyperbolic and overly self-conscious which is more indicative of mental health problems than inherent dangers from society.

This person has spent too much time online, and far too much time navel-gazing. I hope they are able to get some help for their mental health, otherwise it's going to be a very tough life indeed worrying about these very small things. The victim mentality is frustrating. Declaring that you 'can't' go out without a binder or when you're menstruating or that you 'have to' change your voice. None of this is true. She has the same rights as all other humans to leave her home and participate in society. Yes, she might see or hear things she doesn't like when she's out of the house- welcome to being a human in the 21st Century!

I find it incredibly unlikely that the person in the article would be put at risk by using their normal voice in public places. The vast majority of people are going to read them as a butch lesbian, and the vast majority of people have no issue with butch lesbians, or masculine women in general. And if there is risk, what exactly is it? Risk of violence or SA? Well sadly, that is a risk for all women, whether they look masculine or not. Risk of being misgendered? Well yes, that is a risk. But luckily, being misgendered does not constitute harm or violence.