During P.E. one day, this student’s teacher thought it would be appropriate to berate their trans boyfriend for spending too long in the bathroom
Image credits:Gabin Vallet (not the actual photo)
So they decided it was the teacher’s turn to learn a lesson
Image credits:Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)
Image credits:cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Polina Tankilevitch (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Pineapple_Smoothie17
Image credits:Genaro Servín (not the actual photo)
Later, the student responded to several readers and clarified a few details about the situation
It’s no secret that many adult men have a very limited understanding of menstruation
According to a2021 study, 14% of men say they’ve never had a conversation with women about periods, and a quarter believe that a tampon has to be removed before a woman can urinate. 11% of guys don’t realize that women can get pregnant while on their periods, and a quarter admitted that they don’t feel like they even know enough about menstruation to hold a conversation on the topic.
It’s concerning how little we discuss the topic of menstruation, as it allows stigmas on the issue to persist. One2015 surveyfound that many men still perceive women as “less clean and less attractive” during their time of the month, and unfortunately, many women are taught that menstruation is a shameful thing that should be hidden, despite it being one of the most natural things in the world.
Another studyfound that some men associate menstrual blood with feces, rather than blood from any other part of the human body, and one bill in Florida could evenban elementary schoolsfrom teaching about menstruation. Without having open conversations on the topic, and ensuring that men are educated about menstruation as well, we’re never going to end thestigma around periods.
Teachers should know better than to perpetuate the stigma around periods
There is a time and place for talking about private matters, such as time spent in the bathroom, with students. Is it really appropriate for an educator to be questioning a pupil about how long they were in the restroom and what they were doing in there? Shaming students, especially teens who are likely still learning how to understand their own bodies, should be unacceptable.
Educators have a responsibility to care for and guide their students. So if a student starts their period unexpectedly and doesn’t have a pad or tampon readily available, she shouldn’t feel like she has to suffer through the day. It’s wise for schools to equip their bathrooms, and even classrooms, with menstrual products for whenever a cycle decides to strike. And teachers should show their students understanding or speak with them privately if they have concerns about how long a trip to the bathroom took. Calling out a student in front of the entire class can be mortifying for a child or teen, and it turns school into an unsafe space.
Menstruating as a trans person can be confusing and shameful enough without any input from others
It’s never right for a teacher to shame one of their students, but in this particular case, when a trans student was on his period, the teacher should have known to be even more delicate. For many trans men, theexperience of having a periodcan be frustrating, confusing and cause increased gender dysphoria.
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