I'll see your Birth Control Panel and raise you...

[Manifestor_of_Light]

17. Society does not deal with women's menstrual problems at all.

We're supposed to suck it up and go to work like a man.

I had horrible, disabling cramps every month, 13 times a year, for about four days, for something like 42 years. I wondered how an employer would deal with it if you have to go to the doctor and get a note excusing your absence. Yet menstruation is a perfectly normal function and going to the doctor once every twenty eight days is ridiculous. I guess it would be a recurring disability.

I remember arguing with the male orchestra teacher about being late to my class from noon to one p.m., because I had to go to the bathroom and change my pad in the middle of the day. The school was gigantic (3700 students in four grades) and we only had 6 minutes between classes. I argued with him and wouldn't tell him why I had to go to the bathroom. He threatened me with detention. I told him if he didn't like it he could call my mother. These bastards have wives and daughters who menstruate, and they know nothing about it, apparently. That was humiliating as all getout.

I've read recently about high schools that don't even permit children (girls or boys) to go to the bathroom more than 3 times per semester. ???? That is unworkable. That is asking for lawsuits due to bladder infections and other problems from not being allowed to go to the restroom.

My ex husband's lawyer once deposed me for two hours about my menstrual cycles. He was raising hell about my paying child support to him, and why I could not get a steady job. I had to explain about the 13 cycles a year, and that I did not know of any job that would give me one day a week off for sick time. It was the most humiliating experience of my life, one of a string of many humiliating experiences. My female lawyer eventually screamed at him about her disabling cramps in college.

I think we should have menstrual leave for women so that we can stay home and rest when we need to. Menstrual huts are a great idea. Our society won't even accept that women are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, so it's gonna be a long way before they deal with menstruation.