Did he want me to say that tampons are good at soaking up blood?

[sinisterporpoise]

 Despite feeling tired, I decided to go to the local gaming shop’s board game night.  I do this regularly simply for socialization.  I bowed out of the last game because I was feeling dizzy and nauseous.  I decided to stick around for a bit rather than take off right away. Eventually, the game ended and a conversation among two other people started.  Somehow the topic came around to certain first aid practices, and the words tampon and maxi pad came up in the conversation. He looked over at me every time he said this. I wonder if I was supposed to have some sort of input on the conversation.

As might be expected, I had nothing to say.  An army manual suggesting that soldiers use tampons to stop bleeding from a bullet wound did not surprise me.  After all, I know these devices are designed to soak up blood. I did not feel the need to share that I’d never used one, any more than I felt the need to share that I was in the Order of the Arrow when I was a scout.  I’m not sure what he expected any way.  I don’t think I could have added anything meaningful.

Even though it is possible I am over thinking the situation, I was the only female present at the time. Was I supposed to add something, even if to just confirm that soldiers using it in the field for first aid purposes was a valid use? It makes sense to me. Because I hope to never be a soldier in combat, I had nothing to say about that use.  He may have been looking at me to see if he said something that made him less masculine. If this was the case, he’s one of billions of men who need to get over that hang up.

Comments

[silk_dragon_zen]

Well said: I've been in similar situations and, as it happens, I've never successfully used tampons — they're way too painful, no matter how well I'm able to position them, and they feel like they're tearing at my skin in the way in and especially on the way out.

And I agree: our society's idea of what makes a man “manly” is bullshit.

[sinisterporpoise]

This is one of the better things about transitioning from male to female. Before, the clothing sections were rigidly defined. Now I can take the signs that say men as a suggestion without worrying about what people think. Well, at least I could if it weren't for other circumstances that are unrelated to my transition.

I should have left before this, but I wanted to wait for the dizziness to settle a bit before driving home.