Comments on: Is Menstruation a Disability? http://menstruationresearch.org/2009/11/19/is-menstruation-a-disability/ Blog of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:06:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anne http://menstruationresearch.org/2009/11/19/is-menstruation-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Anne Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:19:18 +0000 http://menstruationresearch.org/?p=1398#comment-177 I have a story to share. I am allergic to most mainstream menstruation products -- I don't know what I'm specifically allergic to, but I always get painful dermatitis when I use them, and in an obviously sensitive location. I put up with this for DECADES because of a lack of information, but finally switched to products that don't cause a reaction (lunapads and organic cotton tampons). My sister-in-law was visiting a year or so ago and was poking through an old copy of Bitch magazine. She saw an ad for lunapads and loudly, derisively and forcefully denounced them and anyone who would use them as gross (she actually went off on them at length and was quite creative in her jabs). I had a choice to make: ignore her and busy myself with cooking, or respond honestly and share my experience. I'm sorry to say I took the former option. I was just too embarrassed. I've had similar incidents with my Mom and a close friend, and I'm not even using my usual online handle for this comment. I just can't talk about these products -- and yet, all I'm doing is perpetuating the lack of information about alternatives that kept me in pain for so many years. It's appalling, but the shame and silence is strongly enforced by those around us. Thanks so much for your post and for this conversation. I have a story to share. I am allergic to most mainstream menstruation products — I don’t know what I’m specifically allergic to, but I always get painful dermatitis when I use them, and in an obviously sensitive location. I put up with this for DECADES because of a lack of information, but finally switched to products that don’t cause a reaction (lunapads and organic cotton tampons). My sister-in-law was visiting a year or so ago and was poking through an old copy of Bitch magazine. She saw an ad for lunapads and loudly, derisively and forcefully denounced them and anyone who would use them as gross (she actually went off on them at length and was quite creative in her jabs). I had a choice to make: ignore her and busy myself with cooking, or respond honestly and share my experience. I’m sorry to say I took the former option. I was just too embarrassed. I’ve had similar incidents with my Mom and a close friend, and I’m not even using my usual online handle for this comment. I just can’t talk about these products — and yet, all I’m doing is perpetuating the lack of information about alternatives that kept me in pain for so many years. It’s appalling, but the shame and silence is strongly enforced by those around us. Thanks so much for your post and for this conversation.

]]> By: Caroline http://menstruationresearch.org/2009/11/19/is-menstruation-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Caroline Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:40:38 +0000 http://menstruationresearch.org/?p=1398#comment-162 I am with you about the announcing menstruating thing, although so far have only announced it on facebook. the only response i got was my mother calling me up and asking me why i would do that.......... I am with you about the announcing menstruating thing, although so far have only announced it on facebook. the only response i got was my mother calling me up and asking me why i would do that……….

]]> By: Laura Wershler http://menstruationresearch.org/2009/11/19/is-menstruation-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Laura Wershler Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:38:48 +0000 http://menstruationresearch.org/?p=1398#comment-140 This gets me wondering what would happen, or how our perceptions of menstruation might change, if women chose, instead of hiding their periods, to communicate in creative ways when they are menstruating. For instance, a few years ago I had the thought of making red bead, coiling bracelets to wear, one on each wrist, while I was menstruating. I might have to wear them for months before anyone made an association, but if anyone had asked about them I would have shared their significance. I never made the bracelets but I did wear silver earrings with red stones in them for awhile, before my periods stopped. How could we stop hiding menstruation? Perhaps mentioning it in passing, refusing to hide our period supplies, or even dropping our tampons on purpose. Another way might be for women to talk openly about taking "red tent" days to relax and nourish themselves in whatever ways or activities best suit their needs. And a quick comment on how society does not accommodate women's menstrual periods. I recently was told by a woman that her boss threatened to fire her if she couldn't find a way to manage the very painful periods that caused her to take "sick days" each cycle. Against her better judgement (since she is past 40) and her own wishes, she chose to take hormonal birth control just to secure her job. This gets me wondering what would happen, or how our perceptions of menstruation might change, if women chose, instead of hiding their periods, to communicate in creative ways when they are menstruating. For instance, a few years ago I had the thought of making red bead, coiling bracelets to wear, one on each wrist, while I was menstruating. I might have to wear them for months before anyone made an association, but if anyone had asked about them I would have shared their significance. I never made the bracelets but I did wear silver earrings with red stones in them for awhile, before my periods stopped. How could we stop hiding menstruation? Perhaps mentioning it in passing, refusing to hide our period supplies, or even dropping our tampons on purpose. Another way might be for women to talk openly about taking “red tent” days to relax and nourish themselves in whatever ways or activities best suit their needs.

And a quick comment on how society does not accommodate women’s menstrual periods. I recently was told by a woman that her boss threatened to fire her if she couldn’t find a way to manage the very painful periods that caused her to take “sick days” each cycle. Against her better judgement (since she is past 40) and her own wishes, she chose to take hormonal birth control just to secure her job.

]]> By: Twitted by lunapads http://menstruationresearch.org/2009/11/19/is-menstruation-a-disability/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Twitted by lunapads Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:13:16 +0000 http://menstruationresearch.org/?p=1398#comment-139 [...] This post was Twitted by lunapads [...] [...] This post was Twitted by lunapads [...]

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