And her "menstrual products petting zoo" is always a big hit. Reusable period products like cups, discs, and period underpants are usually in clamshell packaging in stores. Her "petting zoo" lets people get a feel of the products.
Her anecdote about having a booth at a true crime convention and noticing all the people dressed up as serial killers skirting the period supplies booth is hilarious. I will say menstruation holds little stigma for our current crop of young people. I love that they'll just dig around in their backpacks for a tampon in the middle of class and leave holding it openly.
The big tip Lysne gave us about affecting change is to decide what change we want to see and then listen to many perspectives on how to affect that change. "Take your ego out of it." Sounds like good but tough advice.
Pic: Lysne with my class. I love the sassy picture of Lysne we have up on the screen as well!
20 comments:
Wow, wow! I love the idea of the petting zoo. When I was younger I bought a popular menstrual cup and it didn’t work for my body. Obviously you cannot return or give away reusable menstrual products, so it ended up being wasted. So sad.
Growing up my mom wanted me to wrap the (clean!!!!) tampon wrappers prior to putting them in the trash. Why?!?
I’m glad to learn of this organization. :)
-Steph
It's so interesting how the shame around menstruation has really let up. It would be OH MY GOD SO EMBARRASSING if a BOY saw that you had tampons in your bag, for example. Now everything is so much more open, it seems.
I hardly need any products anymore but if I was 10 years younger I would want to try a cup. It's kind of too late for me now, but I love seeing all the products that are around now.
Nice.
Hee hee, a petting zoo. I love it! I can say that I'm done with that part of my life and I don't miss it ONE BIT. My daughter deals with it very matter-of-factly though, so I guess you're right- the younger generation is more casual about it, which is a good thing.
That's a funny story about the true crime convention. Back when I had a period, I used cloth pads.
What an awesome organization/movement. She's a hero.
"Take your ego out of it" can be applied to so many things to make them more effective. Great mantra for Life In General.
What a fun guest!! I am glad there is less shame and embarrassment about menstruation. I've been trying to normalize it with my boys and will say "I have to change my tampon" or something to that effect so they see it's just a normal part of life.
You have such great hair, by the way!!!
I'm still smuggling my tampons up my sleeve from my office to the bathroom. And this is something I sort of want to change, but can't. At night, my husband showers first and then I do. And he always says "the shower is yours" when he's done. When I'm menstruating, I have to wait until he's out of the bathroom altogether because I don't want him to see me dealing with things. I should probably deal with this.
Steph, You would have loved the petting zoo. I have no use for the products anymore, but even so, I enjoyed touching everything.
It's weird all the taboos surrounding menstruation. I had friends with brothers who were supposed to hide all traces of products (so yes, even clean wrappers) from the rest of the family.
I'm sorry.
Same, Nicole! Why was I so embarrassed about perfectly normal stuff like period products and BRA straps and PANTY lines?!?
Same, Jenny! I had a quick and early menopause at 42, and have been living my best life since! So happy A doesn't have the hangups we had XO
Steph, you are amazing! I wish I could say I did, too--I did experiment on and off.
Agree about LB-T being a hero, Nance. and ditto on the mantra. I try to be a good person but do have an ego, so this is an excellent reminder!
:)
This is so perfect, Lisa! I love the normalization!
(And aw! Thank you! I take the supplement Nicole recommended.)
IDK, Engie... I guess people find their comfort level. If you're happy, that's what counts <3
This is Daria, typing from phone.
I see that in high school as well that menstrual process is a not taboo anymore. Heck, even with my 5 year old son when he asked “mom why do you have a napkin in your peepee?” I explained to him about the cycle. My daughter who is 7, calls it “mom’s life cycle” - kind of true.
I love this so much, Daria. The hush-hush nature of this taboo never made sense, and I love that you and your kids are actively involved in breaking it!
I've donated things to them in the past, including tons of purses because they said they like to give their supplies in purses, which I thought was a neat idea and better than taking to goodwill or wherever. I"m so glad I don't have to deal with that anymore!
Same about the purses and the peace of menopause! She said that someone had told her recently that although they were doing well now, they had been a homeless kid, and they still had the purse that had been given to them with supplies in it.
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