Wellness Exchange: Health Discussions
School's Shocking Demand: Prove Your Period Pain or Else
(upbeat music) - Welcome to "Listen To," this is Ted. The news was published on Tuesday, October 8th. Joining us today are Eric and Kate. We're diving into a hot topic, so let's get started. Today we're discussing a controversial policy at Neil Wade Academy in Cambridge here, regarding student absences due to period pain. Let's dive into the details. Eric, what are your thoughts on this new policy? - Well, Ted, I gotta say, I think this policy is actually a step in the right direction. You know, schools these days are under a lot of pressure to keep attendance rates up, and this measure, it's like a BS detector for sick days. It ensures that only the real deal gets a pass. I mean, we can't have kids playing hooky left and right, can we? - Are you kidding me, Eric? This policy is nothing but a slap in the face to every girl in that school. It's a blatant example. - Hold on a second, Kate. Let's not turn this into a gender issue. This isn't about boys versus girls, it's about accountability, plain and simple. The school's just asking for some. - Accountability? Are you serious right now? Period pain isn't just a sniffle or a headache, it can be absolutely debilitating. Requiring proof is like saying we don't trust these girls to know their own bodies. It's degrading. - Now, wait just a minute. You're blowing this way out of proportion. The school isn't asking girls to parade their used tampons around. They're just requesting some medical documentation, which is pretty standard. - Standard? For what? For being born female? This policy is going to discourage girls from speaking up about their pain. Do you have any idea how many serious conditions like endometriosis go undiagnosed? Because people like- - All right, let's take a breath here. You both raise interesting points. Can we dig a little deeper into the potential impacts of this policy? - Sure thing, Ted. Look, at the end of the day, this policy could really boost those attendance numbers, which we all know is crucial for educational outcomes. Plus, it's teaching these kids a valuable lesson in responsibility and proper communication. It's preparing them for the real world where you can't just call in sick without a doctor's note. - Oh, come on, that's absolutely ridiculous. This isn't about preparing anyone for the real world. It's about perpetuating a system that has been dismissing women's pain for centuries. This policy is going to lead to missed diagnoses, increased suffering, and girls falling behind in school because they're too afraid or embarrassed to speak up about their pain. Is that the real world lesson we want to teach? - I think you're exaggerating, Kate. The policy doesn't prevent girls from seeking help. It just requires proper documentation. It's not like they're banning periods or telling girls to suck it up. They're just asking for a little paperwork. Is that really so horrible? It's not exaggeration when girls' health is at stake. This policy is just another brick in the wall of medical misogyny. It's telling girls that their pain isn't valid unless someone else, probably a male doctor, says it is. Do you have any idea how long it takes for conditions like endometriosis to be diagnosed? Years, because people keep dismissing women's pain as not important enough. - Let's zoom in on the specifics of the policy for a moment. What exactly does it entail? - Well, Ted, from what I understand, the school is now requiring more detailed explanations for absences. They're moving away from those vague terms like unwell or poorly that kids and parents often use. It's about getting a clearer picture of what's going on with student health. - And it's specifically targets period pain, Eric. Don't gloss over that part. They're requiring medical information to justify absences due to menstrual cramps. It's discriminatory and invasive. What's next? Are they going to ask girls to submit their used pads as evidence? - Come on, Kate, that's just ridiculous. It's not discriminatory. It applies to all health-related absences. They're not singling out periods. It's about maintaining standards across the board. Would you rather they just let anyone stay home for any reason without question? - But it does disproportionately affect girls and their unique health needs. That's the very definition of systemic bias, Eric. - Girls already face enough challenges and stigma around their periods. This policy is just piling on more shame and obstacles. It's telling them their pain isn't real unless they can prove it. How is that fair or helpful to anyone? - You've both raised some compelling points. Let's look at this issue in a broader context. Can you think of any similar historical events that relate to this situation? - Certainly, Ted. This whole debate reminds me of the 19th century diagnosis of hysteria in women. Back then, doctors would often dismiss women's physical symptoms as emotional or psychological issues. It was a catch-all diagnosis for pretty much any ailment a woman might have. Looking back, it's pretty clear how misguided and sexist that whole approach was. - Exactly. And that led to decades no centuries of women's pain being ignored and under-treated. Women were literally locked up in asylums because doctors couldn't be bothered to take their symptoms seriously. And now this school policy is perpetuating that same harmful mindset. It's like we're going backwards in time. - Whoa, slow down there, Kate. While I agree the hysteria diagnosis was problematic, I think it's a bit of a stretch to compare it to this attendance policy. We've come a long way in medical understanding since then. This isn't about dismissing women's pain. It's about documenting absences. Have we really come that far, Eric? Women still face significant barriers in getting proper diagnoses for conditions like endometriosis. It can take up to a decade for some women to get diagnosed because their pain keeps getting brushed off. This policy is just reinforcing that dismissive attitude. It's a huge step backwards. - Can you both elaborate on how the hysteria diagnosis affected women historically? - Short head, the hysteria diagnosis was basically a catch-all for any female troubles. Doctors used it to explain everything from anxiety to sexual desire. It was often used as a convenient way to dismiss legitimate medical concerns. Women were told their physical symptoms were all in their heads. - And let's not forget the treatments, Eric. It led to harmful practices like forced rest cures and even institutionalization. Women were literally locked away because doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with them. Their voices were silenced and their autonomy was completely stripped away. It was a dark time for women's health. - You're right about that, Kate. It was a shameful period in medical history, but I think it's important to note that medical understanding has evolved significantly since then. We shouldn't assume modern policies are rooted in the same ignorance. We've made real progress in understanding women's health issues. - But the underlying attitude of dismissing women's pain persists as evidenced by this school policy. We're still fighting the same battle, just in a different form. Instead of being labeled hysterical, girls are now being told their pain isn't valid unless they can prove it with a doctor's note. How is that progress? - How do you think this historical context relates to the current situation at Neil Wade Academy? - I believe it serves as a reminder to be cautious, but I don't think the situations are directly comparable. The school isn't dismissing pain. They're asking for documentation. It's about record keeping, not medical diagnosis. We shouldn't conflate administrative policies with medical treatment. - I strongly disagree. This policy, like the hysteria diagnosis, fundamentally questions the validity of women's experiences. It's telling girls that we don't trust them to know their own bodies. It's a continuation of the same harmful pattern of doubting and dismissing women's pain. The only difference is now it's wrapped up in bureaucratic language instead of pseudo medical jargon. - Looking ahead, how do you think this policy might unfold? Eric, what's your perspective on the potential outcomes? - Well, Ted, I believe this policy could actually lead to some positive changes. For one, we might see more accurate attendance records, which could help schools better allocate resources. It could also lead to better support for students with genuine health issues. If a student is consistently missing school, due to severe period pain, for example, this documentation could help identify that and get them the medical help they need. - That's an incredibly naive view, Eric. This policy is going to result in girls suffering in silence, missing school, and potentially developing long-term health issues because they're too embarrassed or afraid to speak up about their pain. It's going to create-- - Now, hold on, Kate. I think you're catastrophizing here. This policy isn't meant to punish anyone. It could actually help identify students who need additional support or medical intervention. It's about creating a paper trail that could lead to-- - It's not catastrophizing when girls' health and education are at risk. This policy is going to create a culture of distrust and shame around menstruation. Girls are already self-conscious about their periods, and now you want them to jump through hoops to prove their pain is real? - Let's broaden our perspective a bit. What about the implications beyond the school? How might this policy affect society at large? - You know, Ted, I think this could actually set a positive precedent. It could lead to more accountable absence policies in other schools and even workplaces. Think about it. If we have better systems for tracking and verifying health-related absences, we could see improvements in overall attendance and productivity across the board. - Or it could reinforce harmful stereotypes about women's pain and lead to more widespread discrimination in healthcare and employment. Imagine a workplace adopting a similar policy. Women would be forced to disclose intimate details about their menstrual cycles just to take a sick day. It's invasive, it's humiliating, and it's a giant step backwards for women's rights. - I think that's a leap, Kate. This policy is about documentation, not discrimination. It could actually lead to better health tracking and support systems if we have more accurate data on how often students are missing school due to period pain. We might be able to develop better resources and support for them and-- - Better health tracking by forcing girls to prove their pain. This will only discourage them from seeking help and perpetuate the cycle of medical misogyny. Girls will learn that their experiences aren't valid unless they're validated by someone else. Usually a male authority figure, how is that helpful? How is-- finally, what alternatives would you propose to address the school's attendance concerns? - I think a more comprehensive health education program could be beneficial. We could teach students about proper documentation and communication regarding their health issues. This would prepare them for the real world while also ensuring the school has the information it needs. - How about we start by trusting students and providing better support services? We need to educate staff on menstrual health and create a more inclusive understanding environment. Instead of punishing girls for their biology, let's give them the resources and support they need to manage their health and education effectively. - Well folks, it's clear this is a complex issue with no easy answers. Thanks to Eric and Kate for sharing their perspectives. It's certainly given us all a lot to think about. Until next time, this is Ted signing off from Listen2.