Free Bleeding - another fad?

Yeuch! Some things are best not shared! I'd be more impressed if body hair was more acceptable. This modern trend for waxing everything must be very high maintenance.

I remember seeing a filmed item about this on tv about 30 years ago - that women were not embarrassed to have blood stains (e.g.) on their arm or foot but if it was anywhere near their nether regions they were embarrassed. Personally I think that's still the case - not ashamed but embarrassed that you 'let' it happen. Admittedly it doesn't make sense but bleeding all over the place deliberately is just disgusting (imho).

I really wish body hair was more accepted, too.
I rather like it.
It sounds quite perverse, but I enjoy seeing hairy people.
Am I a bit perverse, or has society made me feel that way?

rockgran I hear you - apparently young male adolescents now believe women have no body hair at all - we are going backwards in that respect. I find the hairless female a bit creepy, along with the trout pouts etc. - why not just buy a doll and be done with it ?

Previous to the onset of the menopause I literally flooded, it would have been like the chain saw massacre!

A free bleeding woman in the days of wolves and other predatory animals wouldn't have lasted very long leaving a nice trail in her wake.

As far as I remember, as well as everything else, there was a certain odour from menstrual fluid. Not simple blood from a cut etc.

There shouldn't be any odour Fennel unless there's an infection present.

There are other products mixed with menstrual blood that if left will then have an odour but on its own it doesn't smell.

At one time topless on the beach was shocking ...or burning bras was in the news. Now that full nudity doesn't raise an eyebrow I think these 'free bleeders' seem desperate to find something new to shock and get attention. How does this idea enhance female dignity. Quite the reverse. As others have said ...no big deal if visible blood happens ...but to deliberately let this happen? Neither comfortable nor hygienic. We all have bodily functions ...so women have one more than men ...no big deal. Even little children learn to manage their own, for the most part, without mess before they are school age.

I do understand some of the thinking behind this.

I can remember as a teenager periods were never discussed and the whole issue of disposing of sanitary towels in the school toilet incinerator was very embarrassing. I would have been mortified if my sanitary protection had failed and my clothing became bloodstained. I can't imagine how embarrassed I would have felt. But I think these sorts of reactions to a natural process are undesirable and demonstrate how much women have been made to feel ashamed of their periods and desperate to hide the fact that they were menstruating. Some of these feelings, I believe, are reinforced by those religions which see menstruating women as "unclean" and not fit to enter a place of worship.

I rarely used tampons as I found them uncomfortable. I also think that they are very unnatural and can cause toxic shock syndrome.

Having said all that, I don't think many women would be happy to just bleed everywhere - leaving stains on their clothing and seating. Some women have extremely heavy periods and, in my view, they would feel very uncomfortable if they did not wear sanitary protection. It is just not practical.

My personal opinion is that this is absolutely ridiculous!
Mixed up world. What will be next ?

I think the parallel drawn by some between urinating/defecating and menstruating is a false one. Menstrual bloodflow cannot be controlled and is continuous throughout the day and night, whereas urination/defecation (except in the case of severe illness) are not continuous processes and can be controlled.

But Eloethan, people suffering with incontinence usually wear protection.

Yes, I do realise that janea and had a vaccination against Hep B, but there is a chance and this could be considered a H&S issue for the general public.

I am truly glad that the prudish and repressive attitudes regarding feminine bleeding of yesteryear have for the most part gone and that we see san protection on tv adverts just as we see tena lady ext. but surely no need to go to the other extreme of advocating no protection to make the point. Surely energy is better spent in advocating for world wide very cheap/free protection.

I once drove for half an hour to work, wearing those pads you can jump out of airplanes in, only to find my knickers, trousers, coat, car seat covered in blood. I phoned from the car park to say I'd be late and drove home to shower and change. I phoned the GP who said to call in for a prescription to stop the bleeding. Is it hormones I asked, suspiciously. Yes it is he said. You wouldn't let any other area of your body bleed like that, so don't put up with it there either. I took the 3 month course, talk about liberating not to have to take several changes of clothing everywhere for about 10 days out of every 34.
So - I would not be a fan of free bleeding, not at all.

Would they use the same logic and say it is fine to go round with food stains all over their clothes because it's natural to spill stuff? And how uncomfortable it must be, walking around with wet knickers all the time!

I spent agonies about periods. I felt so embarrassed at work. I would have been horrified if a man had known I had a period. It was absolute he'll. I used to bleed loads but even on lighter days I would wear several tampons and 2 pads just in case I had a real phobia. It is good to know that it can be talked about nowadays. I felt so strongly I would have walked out of my job if I had let slip I had a period. Never would i go without my protection
D

"Cass has also created a coloring book to illustrate that people of all genders get periods.”

And Marvel Comics created a book to show that Superman could fly and wore his pants outside his tights.

Agreed Eloethan - but they all make a mess and inconvenience others if they impinge on them. Why would anyone want to stain a neighbour's sofa for instance?

I wonder what these girls would think about these self-indulgent women?

www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/periods-and-girls-education

I free bleed on light days. I dont see the point in using sanitary products for every day that there is any trace of blood. I only use sanitary products on heavy days.

Its not compulsory. Don't like it: don't do it. I'm still not gonna use products I dont really need just because the idea makes you uncomfortable. As you were..

jalima quite.
In the link that was posted upthread, one of the reasons for doing it was given as showing ‘solidarity’ with girls & women who don’t have access to, or can’t afford, sanitary protection.
I don’t quite get that.
Surely if you’re going round advertising the fact that you don’t use pads or tampons, that’s actually saying that they’re not necessary, so we don’t need to be concerned about girls who miss school when they’ve got their period, they should just get on their bikes and free bleed like enlightened women in the First World do??

I guess it supports girls in period poverty because it makes periods less taboo so rather than skip school without telling anyone why they may feel more comfortable admitting that they are bleeding so that they can access support with getting san pro.

Girls would rather skip school than risk a leak. If they see women leak and go "so what? It happens, if it makes you uncomfortable thats your failing not mine" it might make the prospect seem slightly less scary. As in if it happens, its not the end of the world.

that’s actually saying that they’re not necessary

No its not. Its just saying that menstrual blood is not scary, and if it leaks through it shouldn't be mortifying.

If you bleed from a cut there is something wrong with you. Menstrual blood is the opposite and shouldn't be feared.