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Pro-golfer's Simple, Powerful Comment Normalizes Periods Beautifully

Discussion in 'Health & Wellness' started by Rihana, May 4, 2022.

  1. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Watch this 30 second video. Simply beautiful and well delivered, her response.



    Lydia Ko praised for talking about period after surprising reporter with honest answer - CNN
    "Golf's world No. 3 Lydia Ko has been praised for her honest answer about being on her period which left her interviewer lost for words.

    During the final round of the Palos Verdes Championship on Sunday, Ko could be seen receiving treatment from her physical therapist Chris Wicker for an apparent tight back.

    Having completed her round and posting a one-under 70 to finish tied for third, the New Zealand player was asked by Golf Channel reporter Jerry Foltz about the trainer, his treatment and if there was any long-term concern.

    "I hope not," Ko said. "It's that time of the month.

    "I know the ladies watching are probably like: 'Yeah, I got you.' So, when that happens, my back gets really tight, and I'm all twisted. It's not the first time that Chris (Wicker) has seen me twisted, but it felt a lot better after he came. So, yeah, there you go."

    The 17-time LPGA Tour winner's answer took Foltz by surprise. He stuttered as he stumbled for an appropriate response before managing to say: "Thanks."

    Ko was able to laugh off any awkwardness, saying with a smile: "I know you're at a loss for words, Jerry. Honesty it is."
    ...
    Ko's openness about her period, a topic in women's sports that is often seen as taboo, earned her a huge swell of praise on social media."
    Source
     
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  2. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I've watched the video at least five times and read coverage in 3-4 websites. : ) The moment where the reporter mumbles a "Thanks" has me LOL. : )

    Periods still remain a taboo topic. Such responses from sportspersons go a long way in normalizing it. Women should be able to talk like that about the impact of periods on their body. They should not feel like they are making a fuss or excuses if they mention any periods related discomfort.
     
  3. beautifullife30

    beautifullife30 Platinum IL'ite

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    I know a lot of people think that having a period is like a taboo. Actually it isnt. Coming form a brahmin family, those three days are a much needed rest for my mom, me and my sister.

    When my dad goes to perform pooja, my mom usually hands him the day's naivedyam. The day my dad takes a coconut, the entire village knows that my mom has her periods and its just a normal thing.

    Hayyoo...isn't mom 'at home'? Dont worry, i will send you sambar and rasam for the day. So thus the day went eating the sambar, rasam and curry given by our neighbours while rice being cooked in our house. Usually if its just mom, then me and my sister worked together to russel up somthing in the kitchen. There was a time when all three of us got it together and it was a wonderful time watching my dad cook and we relished his dishes. Even to this day, I cant get over how we sat and cracked jokes on my dad while was shaking the ladle telling us not to provoke him or he would add a bit more salt in the sambar.

    Infact, in our houses, the lady with period was given the food first since it is understood that her body is weak and she needs that much more energy and rest and was fed well and asked to take rest well. Ofcourse we had our own things to do then like crafts, basket weaving and stuff.

    The point i am trying to make is, the only requirement in our house was to stay away and take rest without touching anything. Do we contaminate? Not sure. Is there any scientific reason behind all this staying aside? I dont know. But we never hesitated from talking about it.

    Even people from far off villages who came to consult my dad on something never frowed upon these and just used to say 'oh...mom is not at home?' thats all that too when my dad had to prepare coffee for himself and for them. No judgement passed or no snide comments or giggling or no hiding. My cousins, my uncles, my sons infact are trained from now to take care of the ladies during those times and do us full seva during those moments. We the queens enjoy those times.

    Unlike cities where even a whisper packet has to be wrapped and kept in a black polythene bag. People shy away at the very mention of a period. God knows why!

    Disclaimer: This is just based on my experience in my family and my extended family and my neighbourhood families.
     
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  4. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:This reminded me of those “casual leave” of my mom, when I used to pick up the ropes in kitchen.
    It was time of technology transfer for me to learn to gain hands on experience in preparing breakfast, lunch and supper. Great days then!
    I devoted a passage for this narration in my post
    In link
    3m – Me, Mom & Milk

    Thanks for nostalgia.
    Regards.
    God Bless.
     
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  5. MalStrom

    MalStrom IL Hall of Fame

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    I so much prefer the complete anonymity since I came to the US. Now no one other than myself needs to know the details of my cycles.
    I still cringe at memories of the family priest making his weekly breakfast visits. While having his fill of idli-sambar or Pongal he would keep up a running commentary about the neighborhood: Sarala in the next street is “out of doors”, Kalpagam is late this month and her MIL is hoping for good news, Vasantha is also late and they are worried because it’s the fourth one…..and so on. Barf.
     
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  6. Laks09

    Laks09 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
     
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  7. rosequeen

    rosequeen Bronze IL'ite

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    I see my post on transwomen was deleted, but its fact of life for women in the US. They have to be accepted as 'women' who don't have periods. It was not nice of Lydia to ignore this
     
  8. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you for the response, @beautifullife30. I have to say it brought back memories of a time when life was simpler and less complicated. Was that good or bad, how good or how bad, is a separate matter and depends on each person and family.

    Treating is as just part of life and routine is nice and how it should be. The woman not having a say over who all know her monthly calendar is the drawback.

    Women get the rest, women are cherished and taken care of is nice. Without these practices women might not receive those things in traditional houses. Yet, it takes away a lot of choice and autonomy from the woman. Aside from all knowing her personal stuff, there is this: if she feels energetic in those days and wants to do stuff around the house, she is not allowed to.

    I am so glad you wrote what you did and how you wrote it. It highlights a key point: woman may have had to sit aside for those days whether they want the rest or not, but the periods topic itself was not taboo or discussed in an embarrassed manner.

    This too. I've seen it in my relatives and friends circle - if the man grew up in a household where his mother and sisters did not receive or expect any special care or accommodations during periods, and if his wife talks about the discomfort etc. he might say, "but in house my mother and sisters never said anything about this." : ) : )

    That black polythene or brown paper bag that the cashier/store keeper offers for sanitary napkins -- that I think is more a courtesy. They might offer the same to anyone buying personal items like a packet of condoms, pregnancy tests, lubricants etc. We don't want to be seen carrying that item in public. Just like, we might hang some clothes to dry openly, but we prefer to hide undergarments.
     
  9. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I got to experience that anonymity when I lived in the college hostel and later apartment with roommates in my first job. It felt good.
    :grinning: :grinning:

    Living in the U.S., I realize has made me so private about things or reluctant to talk about some things. These are questions that my relatives and childhood friends in India routinely ask each other but I was shocked when they asked me:
    salary, how often intimate, still intimate, TTC, what all done so far for the delay in conceiving, periods still regular or menopause started?
     
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  10. Amica

    Amica IL Hall of Fame

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    How to go about borrowing Chris Wicker for a few days every month? Asking for a friend.
    .
     
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