Mom Feels It's 'Inappropriate And Embarrassing' To Talk About Periods To Her Daughter, Asks Her Sister, Gets Livid When She Introduces Tampons To Her Bored Panda Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app Continue in app Continue in browser Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories Please enter email address By submitting email you agree to get Bored Panda newsletter. We respect your privacy. We will not publish or share your email address in any way. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Are you leaving already? Are you sure you want to post this? We're asking people to rethink comments that seem similar to others that have been reported or downvoted this warning is a mistake x x Let's fight boredom together! Continue with Facebook Continue with Google or Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error()"> Become a member Sign Up Have an account? Login Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Password reminder Please provide your email address and we will send your password shortly. Send Have an account? Login Don't have an account? Sign Up Get our top 10 stories in your inbox: Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Please enter your email to complete registration Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Activate to continue Your account is not active. We have sent an email to the address you provided with an activation link. Check your inbox, and click on the link to activate your account. I have already activated my account Resend activation link We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here. Agree Bored Panda iOS App Available on App Store Continue in App Bored Panda Android App Available on Google Play Continue in App By using our services you agree to our use of cookies to improve your visit. You can change your preferences here. Agree BoredPanda Login Add Post Search ArtPhotographyAnimalsFunnyTravelIllustrationComicsDIYGood NewsParentingChallengeAsk Pandas More Featured Trending Latest Newsletter The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. Bored Panda Mom Feels It’ s ‘ Inappropriate And Embarrassing’ To Talk About Periods To Her Daughter Asks Her Sister Gets Livid When She Introduces Tampons To Her Home Partnership Advertise Success stories Jobs About us Contact 130points 30 Parenting, People1 year ago

Mom Feels It’ s ‘ Inappropriate And Embarrassing’ To Talk About Periods To Her Daughter Asks Her Sister Gets Livid When She Introduces Tampons To Her

Innes M. and
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Periods are a natural biological function and a fact of life for women. However, they're seen as a taboo subject in many parts of the world for either cultural or religious reasons. Trying to push them out of sight and out of mind is especially damaging for all women, and a recent Reddit thread highlights an example of this. As one mother was too uncomfortable to explain periods to her 13-year-old daughter, she asked the girl's aunt to step in instead. They had the discussion about the "birds-and-the-bees" and the aunt showed the girl how to use sanitary pads. Some time later, the girl needed more help as she had situations with leakages and it was causing her embarrassment at school. But after offering the girl tampons to use and resolving the issue, the mother was outraged. She claimed that the tampons would "take her virginity" and thought the aunt was out of line. Confused by what had just happened, she asked Reddit if she was in the wrong for doing what she thought was necessary for helping a young girl where her mother refused to. See the story below for all the details.

A 13 Y O girl is given period advice by her aunt after her mother is too embarrassed to talk about it br

Image credits: Shutterstock (not the actual photo) As menstruation isn't talked about enough, it's often subject to strange rumors and myths. In a series from Tampax looking to break down these myths, they state: "Using a tampon (which is actually considered a medical device) for your period does not change your virginity status. Tampons are small, and can usually be inserted through the existing opening of your hymen - how do you think all the blood and blood clots on your period come out?"

The mother felt awkward about it due to her religious background

Doctors and medical professionals can answer this better. Dr. Julia Brown Lancaster explained the technicalities of women's bodies that cause some confusion about tampons and virginity. "Girls who are virgins usually have a hymen, a very thin piece of skin-like tissue that stretches partly across the opening of the vagina," she said. "A lot of people mistakenly think that a girl is only a virgin if her hymen has not been broken. Most of the time a girl's hymen breaks after having sex for the first time, but it can tear in ways that have nothing to do with having sex." She continued, "For example, it is possible that inserting a tampon might tear the hymen (although that usually doesn't happen). So, even if a tampon does break a girl's hymen, she is still a virgin until she has had sexual intercourse."

The young girl knew nothing about periods so the aunt explained and gave her sanitary pads

It's always better to dispel the myths surrounding a topic by talking about it more. Another sanitary product sought to do the same in a recent marketing campaign of theirs. In 2020, DAME made headlines for an advert that was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The advert - shown across buses in London - was unique for depicting a tampon string hanging out of a woman's underwear and being approved by advertising officials. More than just an advert, it was part of a wider campaign to normalize the image around periods and sanitary products.

The aunt then gave the girl tampons as the girl had embarrassing issues with leakages

In a statement about it, they said, "For too long, periods have been hidden away, avoided in conversation or whispered about in coded language. This only perpetuates the outdated narrative that periods are in some way shameful or dirty." "Periods are a normal, natural bodily function for girls, women and people who menstruate. They're not dirty or unhygienic. There's no need for stigma. It's just blood. Normal, natural blood. Collected in a pad, tampon or cup. Nothing radical about it."

But the mother was upset and said tampons were taking the girl s virginity

A study was commissioned by THINX (a period-proof underwear producer) and completed by the New York Post regarding how periods are viewed in society. 1,500 women and 500 men answered the poll and highlighted some startling facts. 58% of US women have felt embarrassed by their period and 42% have even been shamed for it. "Period-shame is something a lot of women feel, starting with their very first cycle, which can occur as young as eight years old," a spokesperson from THINX said. "Those feelings of embarrassment and self-hate are then reinforced by society, which tells women that their bodies should be clean and tidy."

The aunt asked if she overstepped her role in this situation

Image credits: advanced__tiger879 The shame felt by women often causes them to refer to their period by more palatable names. In the study, names such as "time of the month", "monthly visitor" or "mother nature" were the most commonly used. It seems like the words 'period' or 'menstruating' are too much for people to handle. In fact, the first time that a period was mentioned on US television without a euphemism was in 1985. It's bizarre to think about it, considering the long history of television by that point. Tampax - or rather, a pre-Friends Courteney Cox - was "daring" enough to utter the six-letter word.

But the people in the comments strongly supported the aunt and were shocked by the mother s attitude

We don't know all the details that led to this mother being misinformed about periods, however, the aunt does mention that their own mother refused to talk about the subject as well. The intergenerational censorship of menstruation and period products doesn't help anyone. If the attitudes to it are ever going to change, a healthy discussion needs to be opened up. After all, it's a natural, healthy thing anyway. Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Share on Facebook Innes M. Innes M. Writer, Community member Innes is a writer at Bored Panda. His work combines his passion for the weird and wonderful with helping others on their mission to learn. Outside of work, he loves exploring all kinds of music and will often listen to a new album every day. Read more » Mindaugas Balčiauskas Mindaugas Balčiauskas Author, BoredPanda staff Photo editor at Bored Panda. Mindaugas has worked as a freelance photographer mainly doing events, product photography and has a recurring passion for macro photography. Read more » Show All Contributors Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Download Bored Panda app! You May Like Amazon Driver Says Manager Asked Him To Finish His Route Before Heading To The ER, Goes Viral With 177K Views Saulė Tolstych Medical Professionals Share The Dumbest Ways They've Seen People Self-Treat A Medical Condition Justinas Keturka “I’m Not Coddling Her Anymore”: After Years Of Walking On Eggshells Around Her Childless Sister, This Mother Stands Up For Her Son Mantas Kačerauskas Popular on Bored Panda Woman Shows How "Harry Potter" Characters Were Supposed To Look According To Book Descriptions (35 Pics) 50 ‘Weird Facts’ About The World That Might Give You A Fresh Perspective Overworked Employee Quits Because He Wasn't Getting A Fair Wage, Costs The Company $40 Million 40 Embarrassing Moments People Didn't Know Who They Were Talking To And Made A Fool Of Themselves 30 Of The Most Hectic Homes As Shared On 'The Broke Agent' Instagram Account Bride Doesn't Include Wedding Dinner Price In Her Wedding Invites, Is Surprised To See Many Guests Canceling On Her After They Find Out Woman Shows How "Harry Potter" Characters Were Supposed To Look According To Book Descriptions (35 Pics) 50 ‘Weird Facts’ About The World That Might Give You A Fresh Perspective Overworked Employee Quits Because He Wasn't Getting A Fair Wage, Costs The Company $40 Million Hey pandas, what do you think? POST Watching Watching Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I once had a girl at my house~a friend of my daughters and she got her period. We didn't use pads. Just didn't, never have. And I told her all I had was a tampon and she told me her mom told her if she used it, it caused cancer. I gently explain to her that wasn't true and offered to go get her the pads. But teaching your kids lies because you don't want them to use them is ridiculous. 52 52points reply KatKaleen KatKaleen Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I guess the could cause cancer if you dipped them in radium before inserting them. 28 28points reply Load More Replies... Jay James Jay James Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago They still wouldn't cause cancer, the radium would. 7 7points reply Mazer Mazer Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Touché 1 1point reply ChickyChicky ChickyChicky Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago They can cause toxic shock though. 5 5points reply Mazer Mazer Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Not for everyone using them 1 1point reply Mewton’s Third Paw Mewton’s Third Paw Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago No they can’t. That’s mainly a myth. It’s not even worth discussing because you could get TSS from something else non-tampon related just as easy. 0 0points reply A girl A girl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I get being uncomfortable. My mom was born in 1929, little repressed. That being said, I don't think she ever got to go to the bathroom alone once she had us kids. Asked her why she was bleeding when I was 5-6. She told me. When I got my first, went to the "pad cupboard' and suited up. Explored tampons on my own based on friend advice. This mom should be grateful for her sister's candidness. Shark week is a fact of life, not a choice. 43 43points reply Lauren Caswell Lauren Caswell Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Shark week? uploading to my personal dictionary for future use! 31 31points reply Load More Replies... Watching Watching Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Don't forget riding the Crimson wave! 9 9points reply Marie Marie Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Even better with Shark week extra titles. Shark Week: Blood in the Water/ Air Jaws / Shark Attack Survivors / Survival Fact and Fiction. They just get better. 3 3points reply Jon S. Jon S. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago On a tangent, my mother in law recently told me that the first time she went to Iran she had all her tampons confiscated by a female security guard. The guard had never seen any before and thought they sounded too rude to be allowed in the country. 31 31points reply Load More Comments POST Watching Watching Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I once had a girl at my house~a friend of my daughters and she got her period. We didn't use pads. Just didn't, never have. And I told her all I had was a tampon and she told me her mom told her if she used it, it caused cancer. I gently explain to her that wasn't true and offered to go get her the pads. But teaching your kids lies because you don't want them to use them is ridiculous. 52 52points reply KatKaleen KatKaleen Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I guess the could cause cancer if you dipped them in radium before inserting them. 28 28points reply Load More Replies... Jay James Jay James Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago They still wouldn't cause cancer, the radium would. 7 7points reply Mazer Mazer Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Touché 1 1point reply ChickyChicky ChickyChicky Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago They can cause toxic shock though. 5 5points reply Mazer Mazer Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Not for everyone using them 1 1point reply Mewton’s Third Paw Mewton’s Third Paw Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago No they can’t. That’s mainly a myth. It’s not even worth discussing because you could get TSS from something else non-tampon related just as easy. 0 0points reply A girl A girl Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I get being uncomfortable. My mom was born in 1929, little repressed. That being said, I don't think she ever got to go to the bathroom alone once she had us kids. Asked her why she was bleeding when I was 5-6. She told me. When I got my first, went to the "pad cupboard' and suited up. Explored tampons on my own based on friend advice. This mom should be grateful for her sister's candidness. Shark week is a fact of life, not a choice. 43 43points reply Lauren Caswell Lauren Caswell Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Shark week? uploading to my personal dictionary for future use! 31 31points reply Load More Replies... Watching Watching Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Don't forget riding the Crimson wave! 9 9points reply Marie Marie Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Even better with Shark week extra titles. Shark Week: Blood in the Water/ Air Jaws / Shark Attack Survivors / Survival Fact and Fiction. They just get better. 3 3points reply Jon S. Jon S. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago On a tangent, my mother in law recently told me that the first time she went to Iran she had all her tampons confiscated by a female security guard. The guard had never seen any before and thought they sounded too rude to be allowed in the country. 31 31points reply Load More Comments Popular on Bored Panda I Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life 30 Y.O. Woman Takes DNA Test For Fun Only To Discover Her Long-Term Boyfriend Is Her Full Sibling "I Just Said Thank You And Left": Man’s Nice Gesture Is Praised After Pizza Hut Driver Got A $20 Tip On A $938 Order Woman Flabbergasted At Thrift Store's Prices, Calls Them Out By Sharing 14 Examples 50 Parents Having A Pretty Miserable Day Photoshop Troll Who Takes Photo Requests Too Literally Strikes Again, And The Result Is Hilarious (17 Pics) Popular on Bored Panda 40 Embarrassing Moments People Didn't Know Who They Were Talking To And Made A Fool Of Themselves 30 Of The Most Hectic Homes As Shared On 'The Broke Agent' Instagram Account Bride Doesn't Include Wedding Dinner Price In Her Wedding Invites, Is Surprised To See Many Guests Canceling On Her After They Find Out I Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life 30 Y.O. Woman Takes DNA Test For Fun Only To Discover Her Long-Term Boyfriend Is Her Full Sibling "I Just Said Thank You And Left": Man’s Nice Gesture Is Praised After Pizza Hut Driver Got A $20 Tip On A $938 Order User Submissions The Best Microscopic Photos From The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition 2022 (92 Pics) I Am So Passionate About Creating Mystical Art, Here Are Some Of The Magical Notebooks I Have Made (23 New Pics) 30 Comics About Making It Through Life While Fighting Mental Health Issues By This Artist “I Own An Official Nanosecond”: 35 Rare Items Owned By Our Community I Photographed This Ukrainian Village Because It Is My Solace That Inspires Me (38 pics) By Changing His Lifestyle And Eating Habits At Age 60, Steve Ramsden Has Successfully Lost Over 60 Lbs And Now Has A Body Of A Bodybuilder Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories Subscribe Please enter email address Also on Bored Panda Management Introduces Disciplinary Rules To Make Most Of Employees, Freaks Out When They Turn The Rules Against Them This Online Group Is Dedicated To Things That Are Inexplicably Satisfying, Here Are 50 Of The Best Ones (New Pics) Woman Buys Ex-Hoarder's Home With All Of Their Belongings, Spends 4 Years Cleaning When Relatives Start Demanding Heirlooms They Didn't Want Dad Overhears A Conversation Between His New Wife And His Son, Cancels The Mother’s Day Celebration He’d Planned 50 People Who Are Having A Terrible Day At Work 30 Mistakes Made By Designers And Architects Who Didn’t Think Of The Person Who’d Be Using Their Designs I Used AI To See What These 30 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life, And Here's The Result (New Pics) Employee Gets Told They're "Replaceable", So They Play Along And It Ruins The Company 50 Times Signs Were So Funny, People Had To Share Them On This Facebook Page “I Felt So Shaken Up”: Woman Leaves Family Trip After Eavesdropping On Husband’s Conversation With Mother-In-Law Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid 50 Times Teachers Hung The Funniest Signs In Their Classrooms And They Ended Up Being Praised Online "An Entitled Mother Insists That I 'Share' My Nintendo Switch With Her Child On My Flight" "Lost In History": 50 Pictures That Shed A New Light On Our Past People Are Roasting Airbnb For Getting Completely Out Of Hand, Here Are 30 Of The Most Savage Tweets The Best And Worst Transformations Seen During School Reunions, As Shared By These 30 Internet Users Employee Laughs In Boss' Face For Saying It's "Unethical" To Make Plans After Work, Takes The Case To The Director Woman Goes Viral With 7.7M Views When She Shares That Her Date Called Her An Uber To Go Home After He Saw How She Was Dressed 23 Y.O. Son Tells His Parents He’ll Never Speak To Them Again After Finding Out They’re Paying For Sister’s Education Yet Didn’t Pay For His 50 Times People Spotted Stupid Design Decisions In Public Places And Just Had To Share "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Employee They Disrespected European Is Shocked To Learn How American Suburbs Work, Goes Online To Ask Some Accurate Questions 32-Year-Old Independent Modern Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society (30 New Pics) Employee Maliciously Complies To Work Only His 8 1/2 Hours, Makes The Company Lose $85k Per Year Also on Bored Panda 50 Times Teachers Hung The Funniest Signs In Their Classrooms And They Ended Up Being Praised Online Woman Goes Viral With 7.7M Views When She Shares That Her Date Called Her An Uber To Go Home After He Saw How She Was Dressed 50 Parents Having A Pretty Miserable Day Employee Gets Told They're "Replaceable", So They Play Along And It Ruins The Company 50 Times People Spotted Stupid Design Decisions In Public Places And Just Had To Share 32-Year-Old Independent Modern Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society (30 New Pics) People Are Roasting Airbnb For Getting Completely Out Of Hand, Here Are 30 Of The Most Savage Tweets "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Employee They Disrespected 30 Mistakes Made By Designers And Architects Who Didn’t Think Of The Person Who’d Be Using Their Designs 23 Y.O. Son Tells His Parents He’ll Never Speak To Them Again After Finding Out They’re Paying For Sister’s Education Yet Didn’t Pay For His Woman Flabbergasted At Thrift Store's Prices, Calls Them Out By Sharing 14 Examples I Used AI To See What These 30 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life, And Here's The Result (New Pics) European Is Shocked To Learn How American Suburbs Work, Goes Online To Ask Some Accurate Questions Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Management Introduces Disciplinary Rules To Make Most Of Employees, Freaks Out When They Turn The Rules Against Them The Best And Worst Transformations Seen During School Reunions, As Shared By These 30 Internet Users Photoshop Troll Who Takes Photo Requests Too Literally Strikes Again, And The Result Is Hilarious (17 Pics) This Online Group Is Dedicated To Things That Are Inexplicably Satisfying, Here Are 50 Of The Best Ones (New Pics) “I Felt So Shaken Up”: Woman Leaves Family Trip After Eavesdropping On Husband’s Conversation With Mother-In-Law 50 People Who Are Having A Terrible Day At Work 50 Times Signs Were So Funny, People Had To Share Them On This Facebook Page Employee Laughs In Boss' Face For Saying It's "Unethical" To Make Plans After Work, Takes The Case To The Director "Lost In History": 50 Pictures That Shed A New Light On Our Past Employee Maliciously Complies To Work Only His 8 1/2 Hours, Makes The Company Lose $85k Per Year Follow We're also on Instagram and tumblr App Store App Store User Submissions Hey Pandas, How Often Do You Forget Something Important, And What Was The Result? 35replies 21 points Hey Pandas, Share Pics Of Your Halloween Decorations 4comments 22 points This Artist Continues To Create Amazing Logic-Challenging Photo Manipulations (70 New Pics) 5comments 33 points Hey Pandas, What's Something You've Made Yourself? (Closed) 6comments 29 points I Created My Own Dark Tarot Deck Featuring Creepy Creatures And Demons (78 Pics) 16comments 53 points This Artist Reimagines Brazilian States As Video Game Characters (22 Pics) 9comments 30 points Hairstylist Shares 30 Women Who Took The Risk Of Cutting Their Hair Short And Got Awesome Results (New Pics) 75comments 51 points Hey Pandas, What Is The Weirdest Name For A Human You've Ever Heard? (Closed) 80replies 21 points Artist Creates Adorable Images Of Dressed-Up Animals With References To Star Wars, The Hobbit And More (44 Pics) 23comments 61 points "An Amazing World Right Under Your Nose": 24 Pictures Of Nature That I Took With A Macro Lens 7comments 43 points Get the App App Store App Store Google News © 2022 Bored Panda