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I think this sounds terrible. Menstruation by itself doesn't cause any difficulty in getting work done. If you get severe cramps then take sick leave. Just like

I think this sounds terrible. Menstruation by itself doesn't cause any difficulty in getting work done. If you get severe cramps then take sick leave. Just like people who get migraines, or other pains can take sick leave when they need it. Just give people more sick leave days if that is needed. I see no reason to announce to the world that your sick leave is associated with menstruation/migraines/allergies/mental illness/diarrhea/etc. Should all girls be allowed to skip school when they menstruate even if they are perfectly capable of attending? If not, why should women get to skip work just because they are menstruating? I think this just incentivizes people to think of women as incapable when they are menstruating. Seriously, menstruating is not a big deal for most women.

mosseater 5y ago
For "most" women, but not by a large margin or anything. And even for women where it's "not so bad", they are still sick as fuck for at least one of those days. They hide it better because society has ingrained in them that this sickness is not worth resting for. In your idealistic world we should have no reason to announce why we take off, and we would have more sick days. But sorry, MyHypatia, that's not going to be the case in the US for a while. Maybe in specifically tech it will take off, but I doubt an average worker will experience this benefit. We already think of women of incapable, that is the problem! That's how we got here. Set them up for disaster because they were already incapable of working as much as a man. I think thinking of women as capable means giving them menstrual, pregnancy, and maternity leave. Because it evens out the divide between us. Given that, don't you think setting up institutional policies to protect someone from losing their job if they are menstruating is important?
- MyHypatia 5y ago
  Seriously, what are you talking about? Women are not "sick as fuck" at least one of those days. I never get "sick as fuck" from my period, and I can't think of a single female friend who is that debilitated by her period. When I go to the bathroom, I change my tampon, which takes about 30 seconds. That's it. When I occasionally have cramps I take an Advil or apply a heating pad. It has zero impact on whether or not I am "well enough" to perform my job. I am not "hiding my sickness". I do not need menstruation leave. Most women are able to function perfectly fine on their periods. I am not set up for disaster because I work while I am on my period. I don't work less than men when I am on my period. Yes, some women happen to have painful periods, just like some people happen to have painful migraines or allergies. And they should decide for themselves how to use their sick leave.
  - meristohm 5y ago
    Fair points, and as someone who can only imagine what it’s like to menstruate, I hope for more women to be part of (if not fully control?) the decision-making processes that affect women’s bodies. I’m not shy about talking about my vasectomy, but other men might be, so I don’t support mandatory disclosure of why a person is taking time off to recover. Not a perfect analogy, since hopefully it’s a one-time procedure, and it’s not a natural process like menstruation is. I reiterate support for people having autonomy over their bodies.
melenaboija 5y ago
And I think what you said sounds like a text from a stand up comedy show. From the 60's. Even if what you said made any sense, what would be the problem on giving 12 extra sick days per year to women? As you said they can take them or not, and again, where is the problem? And besides the discussion on the amount of suffering of all the women on the planet, where is the problem on giving women an advantage (in case it was)?

mosseater 5y ago

For "most" women, but not by a large margin or anything. And even for women where it's "not so bad", they are still sick as fuck for at least one of those days. They hide it better because society has ingrained in them that this sickness is not worth resting for. In your idealistic world we should have no reason to announce why we take off, and we would have more sick days. But sorry, MyHypatia, that's not going to be the case in the US for a while. Maybe in specifically tech it will take off, but I doubt an average worker will experience this benefit. We already think of women of incapable, that is the problem! That's how we got here. Set them up for disaster because they were already incapable of working as much as a man. I think thinking of women as capable means giving them menstrual, pregnancy, and maternity leave. Because it evens out the divide between us. Given that, don't you think setting up institutional policies to protect someone from losing their job if they are menstruating is important?

MyHypatia 5y ago
Seriously, what are you talking about? Women are not "sick as fuck" at least one of those days. I never get "sick as fuck" from my period, and I can't think of a single female friend who is that debilitated by her period. When I go to the bathroom, I change my tampon, which takes about 30 seconds. That's it. When I occasionally have cramps I take an Advil or apply a heating pad. It has zero impact on whether or not I am "well enough" to perform my job. I am not "hiding my sickness". I do not need menstruation leave. Most women are able to function perfectly fine on their periods. I am not set up for disaster because I work while I am on my period. I don't work less than men when I am on my period. Yes, some women happen to have painful periods, just like some people happen to have painful migraines or allergies. And they should decide for themselves how to use their sick leave.
- meristohm 5y ago
  Fair points, and as someone who can only imagine what it’s like to menstruate, I hope for more women to be part of (if not fully control?) the decision-making processes that affect women’s bodies. I’m not shy about talking about my vasectomy, but other men might be, so I don’t support mandatory disclosure of why a person is taking time off to recover. Not a perfect analogy, since hopefully it’s a one-time procedure, and it’s not a natural process like menstruation is. I reiterate support for people having autonomy over their bodies.

melenaboija 5y ago

And I think what you said sounds like a text from a stand up comedy show. From the 60's. Even if what you said made any sense, what would be the problem on giving 12 extra sick days per year to women? As you said they can take them or not, and again, where is the problem? And besides the discussion on the amount of suffering of all the women on the planet, where is the problem on giving women an advantage (in case it was)?