hello. i (22f) recently went to a small museum with my friend, and I unexpectedly got my period during then. I asked the two receptionists (both male) if the museum had menstrual products. The two didn’t know what that was, so I clarified and said "pads or tampons," which they didn’t.
I went back into the bathroom, with my friend waiting outside for me. According to my friend, the two started making fun of me for asking my question behind my back.
I was raised to believe that since periods are completely normal, it’s totally okay to forget to carry around products when you go out. Many museums/public spaces I’ve gone to in my city have menstrual products in the bathroom, either for free or for purchase. Although I admittedly have only few male friends, they have been all relatively chill about it.
But now I’m wondering if there’s more (cis) men like this than I thought who are weird about periods. I just don’t want to get made fun of again behind my back, and this whole incident is making me reconsider my comfortability about talking about my period in front of men. for context, I’m american.
Immature ones.
Yes, immature ones, don’t be embarrassed, OP, they should be embarrassed that they didn’t know what menstrual products are 🤦♀️. But be prepared—for the rest of your life, men, generally speaking are a bit squeamish around periods. And honestly, in America, many women still don’t talk openly about it. Maybe your generation will be the one to break the taboo…one can hope
Well I just had sex with my wife while she was menstruating last night. I’m not one of the wimpy ones lol.
You would be surprised as to how many 11 year old boys look to be in their 30s or 40s, it is a surprisingly high percentage.
Your period is normal, but so is two punks giggling over you asking them for a tampon. You really should stop giving strangers so much power over you, what they say or do behind your back is irrelevant.
I agree, but far easier said than done.
Not common those two are losers
Be like my mom. I couldn’t open the car glove box, her purse, any cabinet in the house. Any drawer in the desk at her work. I swear, she could have supplied an army with pads she had so many stashed!
I could never understand why men didn’t like buying tampons or pads. Never bothered me any. Surely the person who checks you out knows it’s not for you.
I enjoy saying things like “I get a lot of nosebleeds.”
there are shitty people everywhere. people are made fun of for having different traditions or beliefs all the time. best not to dwell on it, chalk it up to the human experience. wanting to not get made fun of behind your back is like wanting every person to never experience suffering. be at peace with who you are, regardless of what others flawed beliefs are.
I have walked to the store while telling the woman to wait in the bathroom, in a similar situation. No, it’s not normal to treat periods like a problem. And helping people is normal.
No, I wouldn’t say it’s common to be shitty about it, but I’ve also never heard of like, the front desk of a museum having tampons. Sounds like the two guys were dingbats but I wouldn’t have really been any more help in their place. I guess for me a runny nose is natural too so I carry Kleenex in my jacket pocket?
One of my ex girlfriends was really shy and unexpectedly started her period early at a music festival.
So I, a 6’4, 250 pound, 30s something man, had to ask women (the ones carrying bags, obviously) if they had a tampon to spare at a music festival. It was super awkward for everyone involved.
I wasnt mean, didn’t make any jokes, and never brought it up again. I got her the tampon and we moved on.
Dont stress about these losers.