Period Shaming and "Free Bleeding"... WTF???

I haven’t had my period since December 2007. I had a hysterectomy because I had fibroids. It should go without saying that I don’t miss my little monthly party… but I certainly remember it.

I read an article this week about how a woman ran the London Marathon without a tampon; obviously it was that time of the month for her. She didn’t start her period during the race, she intentional chose to “free bleed” which is apparently a thing.

Her motivation for doing this was to “take a stand for women around the globe who don’t have access to menstruation products or who have to hide their period away like it doesn’t exist.”

Uh… say what?

The woman (Kiran Ghandi) went on to say, “one way to transcend oppression is to run a marathon in whatever way you want… where the stigma of a woman’s period is irrelevant… we can re-write the rules as we choose.”

I’m the first to say having your period is a bummer, but transcending oppression? WTF is she talking about?

I’m a runner. I know having Auntie Flo as your running partner sucks. Back in the day, I’d have to plan runs around the crimson tide. Okay, I’m done with period euphemisms now. I didn’t run my first half marathon until after my hysterectomy and I can only imagine the “well this sucks” factor that is getting your period the night before your big race.

But running without a tampon? To make a statement? Two words: Gross and why?

To be clear, I don’t think menstruation is something for a woman to be ashamed of. I don’t care about what Donald Trump has to say on the subject… the rantings of a man who has proven himself a master of verbal vomit on just about every subject should not sway how society at large views a normal bodily function.

Having my period ran the gamut between mildly annoying and agonizing. I’ve had more than one awkward teenage moment where things seeped through and I had to walk around with a sweater tied at my waist, and everyone knows what that means. A girl with a hoodie or a shirt wrapped around her midsection might has well wear a sign that says “period accident.” That is no fun, and yes, teenage me was embarrassed each time it happened.

But embarrassment and shame are two different things, people. I would be embarrassed if I peed my pants… I wouldn’t be ashamed because I had to pee in the first place.

And to claim running a marathon without a tampon is making a statement about the stigma of menstruation? I call BS. I say it’s making a statement about making a statement and giving someone a few “look at me” moments in the spotlight.

Yes, I guess there’s an unwritten rule in society that women use feminine product, and yes, I know there are places in the world where women can’t afford these things and that’s a shame. But these same women probably can’t afford toilet paper, either. Should we forgo wiping our butts to make a statement in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding poop?

Uh… no.

Maybe I live a sheltered life. Maybe I don’t pay much attention to periods anymore because, well, because I stopped having mine. I wasn’t aware “period shaming” was a thing before I read about someone running a marathon while intentionally bleeding all over her tights to prove a point. Apparently there’s such a thing as “period art” as well, but I couldn’t finish reading about that. Google it if you’re curious. I can’t even…

There were so many ways this woman could have empowered herself or advocated for social change without “free bleeding” and prancing in front of the cameras like a little show pony. I’m not sure how her actions further the cause of the woman who can’t afford to buy pads? I think all she did was further herself and that’s okay. She can have her fifteen minutes.

Making fun of a woman who had a period accident while running a marathon? Mean. Lauding a woman who chose to “free bleed” for 26 miles? Ridiculous.

And people. They’re called sanitary or hygiene products for a reason. No shame in using them for their intended purpose.

There are plenty of fearless women out there who are breaking molds that are worthy of accolades. I’m kind of crushing on Amy Schumer right now, but she might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But seriously, if you want to stand behind someone who’s making a statement, maybe you shouldn’t put your money on the girl who thinks “free bleeding’ equates to female empowerment.

I bet Amy would never do that.

Jill Robbins writes about adoption, motherhood and midlife on her blog, Ripped Jeans & Bifocals. She has a degree in social psychology that she uses to try and make sense out of the behavior of her husband and three children but it hasn’t really helped so far. She enjoys dry humor and has a love/hate relationship with running. Her work has been featured on Babble, Scary Mommy, In the Powder Room, and Blunt Moms. You can also find her in the December print issue of Mamalode. She willingly answers any questions that end with “and would you like wine with that?” You can follow Jill on Facebook and Twitter.