Have you heard about the "free bleeding" movement?

I’m with you about tampons@kardamom , definitely. I had a woman working here for several years who used pads and you could really smell it, as soon as she walked in my door, it was powerful! I liked this person and did not wish to offend her. I asked myself if I would want someone I knew to tell me. The answer was YES! So I spoke with her and made several practical suggestions. I never smelled that smell again. She was not offended by the way, she had been completely unaware of it, as unbelievable as it may sound, no one had ever said anything to her.

I’m pretty sure this went mainstream by some group trolling feminists on the internet. It just shows how politics and ideology shit on everything.

I think it’s totally irresponsible to not use something while you are on your period. The person may not mind ruining her clothes and furniture, but I sure would not want her at my house bleeding on my furniture.

@chyna I was kind of thinking the same thing. I only just found out about this. She has never been to my house, but I don’t live anywhere near her either. I just thought it was very weird. In our generation (I think you and I around the same age) it was the height of shame and embarrassment if someone were to see a leak when you were having your period. I was grateful to have modern products to keep me clean.

My friend, the free bleeder said something about how tampons were men’s way of controlling women. As I recall, it was a woman who first marketed tampons back in the 1930’s. And I thank that woman.

The other woman, the one with the period underwear, thinks it’s a terrible idea to put chemicals inside your body (she was referring to the bleached cotton or other material that tampons are made of). At least she is 100% honest in her thoughts and deeds. She eats very healthy, and doesn’t smoke or drink. I figured putting a tampon into my body, for a few days out of the month isn’t going to hurt me, at least not in the same way that someone smoking a pack a day, or drinking alcohol every day, or eating junk food all the time would.

On a more humorous note, I was thinking that free bleeding might attract animals. Eeek!

Can you imagine walking into a job interview while you were free bleeding? What about a restaurant? Would they have to now ask if you would like the bleeding, or non-bleeding section. Oy vey!

Yeah, don’t go in the ocean. Shark attack!

I agree that it’s gross and probably not sanitary but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a “movement.” I would guess that in reality there are very few women actually doing this.

Disgusting. and as @Mariah said, I doubt many women, even feminists, are doing this. It’s incredibly inconvenient and I would imagine expensive…(having to buy new clothes every month)

I suppose it would keep the flies away from everybody else…

I live in CA. Apparrently it is a thing here, and more women, especially women in their 30’s are doing it. I found this out after talking to my friends, and doing a little research online.

It’s strange now that I’m older, I’d forgotten just how pivotal such matters are to women. I also for some reason assumed that advances in medicine and feminine hygiene products had eliminated the crippling horrors many women suffered. Women would never believe just how ignorant we men are about these things, and I grew up with 2 sisters.

Incontinent undergarments will preserve your clothes,

I’m not a female so it hasn’t been an issue.

I sort of remember this from the 1970s – hippie days – some girls at college, away from home and trying new things – did the Free Bleeding for a while. I don’t remember it catching on in a big way, and I definitely don’t remember any untoward incidents.

Sounds like this comes up every generation or two as a “new thing”.

Aware of it? Sure. I also think that the sheer inconvenience of it keeps the numbers down.
And really, ain’t nobody’s business but their own. Any methods that women use to deal with menstruation are strictly personal. It absolutely doesn’t affect me personally, my furniture has not been sullied by someone else’s sanitary choices.

And the whole idea of judging another woman for choosing pads, tampons, sponges, cups, whatever is anathema to me.

It’s not for me for many reasons, and I’m not certain how they would keep clean in a business environment, or even in public. More power to them if it works for them, though.

It does sound strange and messy.

Some women can’t use tampons. I’m one of them so I use pads. I didn’t know some people would judge me for it.

Sick people will do sick things. Healthy people do healthy things.

It’s healthy to manage our biolological functions. Unlike lower animals we are smart enough to maintain good hygiene. Pooping and peeing are also natural body functions that fortunately are not usually on display for public viewing.

@Aethelwine. You are not being judged for using feminine hygiene pads.

I said it would be very messy (and public) if you decided to free bleed, which you are not.

I had never heard of this “technique” before a few weeks ago. Actually, it’s the lack of a technique. I would find it equally odd if people here decided to forgo toilet paper and just let their other bodily fluids flow down their legs and into their clothes.

Ew
Ew
Ew
Ew
Ew
Public transportation
Restaurants
Theaters
I mean, public places probably are not targeted, but a woman who has such a loose, irresponsible attitude towards hygiene, I would not suppose cares much about other people’s property or discomfort.

Oh, and, EW.

Looked into it a bit some people say it’s a “protest” against taxes on pads and tampons. That the taxes are “oppressive’” and to be honest I think these women need to take a trip to the middle east if they are going to pick that to be the thing that they consider “oppressive” and “needs to be changed”
If periods were something everyone experienced they might not be taxed as a luxury item, but not everyone is a biological female sooo…?

She must have some mental issues!

Yeah, she must have some menstrual issues.
:-D

What is “oppressive” is that men / boys can’t bleed. That isn’t fair.

Although there is an old Irish patriotic song by Thomas Moore .called The Minstrel Boy

I can understand a reluctance to put a tampon – possibly laden with chemicals – into a part of the body that can absorb them readily.
What do these women think about the reusable cups that have been developed?

But, @dabbler, they use nothing at all.

@Patty_Melt understood, thanks
I guess I’m making a benefit-of-a-doubt case, but is the problem with available methods to “deal” with flow, or reluctance to inhibit flow from wherever it would go…?

I’d have to caucus with objections to bringing any of that out into public spaces where hygiene can be compromised. We don’t let our other body expressions get through our clothes if we can help it. Except maybe sweat ?