Menstrual leave 'would boost productivity'

News.com.au | Menstrual leave 'would boost productivity' (11-02-2005)

Many of us thought this was a trip back into the dark ages and we discussed it in a very animated fashion. We have fought for a long time to be regarded as equals. We have asked for equity and now we find the unions are looking at escape clauses again for women because they are somehow "faulty". Not quite the same as men. Not as durable and efficient. Don't men have a testosterone hike every 20 minutes? Yes, we are all human and we all have our human weaknesses. To single out the menstrual cycle as something to be given special consideration is turning us back into the poor wee things who suffer from the vapours. If period pain is so severe you are incapacitated by it, there is a medical reason. Sometimes it's allergy to the hormones, sometimes it's growths and infections. Sometimes it's poor diet or a retroverted womb.We have worked so hard to change around the belief that women cannot compete on an open market because of this built in fault of being female. Medical illnesses and conditons are covered by sick leave conditions. Some stages of life mean you are more affected by hormonal disturbances than others. That holds for men too and it discriminates against men to make us believe they are not erratic because of hormones. This is about allowing work conditions to be more flexible to cater for someone who is feeling under par or over aggressive. Rotating jobs, shifts. We cannot remain competititive , nor will women be considered seriously if they are allocated 12 extra days. From a financial point of view it would be easier to employ men or post menopausal women. I could not take this seriously and in fact, I think I shall go and grab my lavender hankie because I can feel an attack of the vapours coming on.