Women of Reddit, what/who made you feel ashamed of using feminine products in public?

7 comments

1. The only time I was embarrassed was when I was using a see-through bag (the early 2000s were wild) and didn’t want to go around showing my pads to everyone. I was 13 and going to my friend’s birthday party, and I didn’t want people commenting on it, so I wrapped it in a scarf (in the middle of summer) to hide it.

   >the shape of it in their pocket or the sound of opening the wrapper in a public bathroom.

   I can’t relate to that at all.

2. It was only when I first started. I developed early and was the first one out of my friends to start my period. So I was mortified to open a pad in the bathroom at school or carry one around in my pocket.

   I remember my mom telling me it would get more normal, and it did.

   Once in grade 7, my teacher had given us shit about wandering the halls while on a “bathroom break” and that we needed to go to the bathroom and come right back. I, of course, had my period and was a terrified to get in trouble.

   So I asked him to go to the bathroom and mentioned I would also have to stop by my locker for…things…. I was mortified.

   He felt horrible and the next day told the class that stopping by your locker when on a bathroom break was ok.

3. I was only ever ashamed of it when I was a teenager shorty after I started using them, but then I realized there’s no reason to be ashamed of them, nobody is ashamed of using toilet paper or paper towels

4. I honestly don’t think I ever experienced this particularly. I was definitely shamed for my breasts coming in at such a young age though.

   Actually, I had my best friend over last weekend and I had to just finished my period. I use a menstrual cup and had just washed and sanitized it and had it sitting on the kitchen counter to air dry. I completely forgot it was there out in the open and almost snatched it before my friend could see it, but then I thought “why?! This is my house, and my best friend, and it’s something that has made my life 10 times easier since I started using it so why do I feel embarrassed??” That 5 second hesitation made me realize that there are some things that are ingrained in us that we may not even fully realize.

5. The only thing I was ever nervous about was “bleeding through” and staining – a universal fear I think lol.

   But just using period products? Nah, women commonly have periods and I wasn’t brought up to believe that my biology is shameful. Thanks mom and dad.

6. everyone else was ashamed so i thought i should be as well.

   ​

   now i don’t give a fuck.

7. I really don’t remember to be honest, but I had a lot of male friends when I was young, so I’m sure at least one of them said something. I do remember being ashamed of it though. Now I’m older and grumpier and I would change my pad in front of literally anyone while keeping aggressive eye contact.