[Applause] hello I’m Bex Baxter and I’m here to
hello I’m Bex Baxter and I’m here to
hello I’m Bex Baxter and I’m here to talk to you about periods just want you
talk to you about periods just want you
talk to you about periods just want you to notice for a moment if there’s any
to notice for a moment if there’s any
to notice for a moment if there’s any discomfort that might be coming up
discomfort that might be coming up
discomfort that might be coming up around this subject and just allow it to
around this subject and just allow it to
around this subject and just allow it to be there now I want you to compare that
be there now I want you to compare that
be there now I want you to compare that discomfort to being bent double white as
discomfort to being bent double white as
discomfort to being bent double white as a sheet and feeling repetitive menstrual
a sheet and feeling repetitive menstrual
a sheet and feeling repetitive menstrual cramps deep into your belly because
cramps deep into your belly because
cramps deep into your belly because traditionally we have spent so much time
traditionally we have spent so much time
traditionally we have spent so much time trying to appease that discomfort of
trying to appease that discomfort of
trying to appease that discomfort of just talking about this subject and very
just talking about this subject and very
just talking about this subject and very little time giving the compassion to the
little time giving the compassion to the
little time giving the compassion to the hundreds and thousands of women across
hundreds and thousands of women across
hundreds and thousands of women across the globe who everyday are suffering
the globe who everyday are suffering
the globe who everyday are suffering because of the taboo around menstruation
because of the taboo around menstruation
because of the taboo around menstruation in the workplace but we’ve come a long
in the workplace but we’ve come a long
in the workplace but we’ve come a long way and in the last year we’ve noticed
way and in the last year we’ve noticed
way and in the last year we’ve noticed that sanitary adverts have cottoned on
that sanitary adverts have cottoned on
that sanitary adverts have cottoned on to the idea that blood is in fact red
to the idea that blood is in fact red
to the idea that blood is in fact red and not this year Caribbean Lagoon blue
and not this year Caribbean Lagoon blue
and not this year Caribbean Lagoon blue that they used to represent it Scotland
that they used to represent it Scotland
that they used to represent it Scotland have also made great strides towards
have also made great strides towards
have also made great strides towards ending period poverty and they’re aiming
ending period poverty and they’re aiming
ending period poverty and they’re aiming to give everyone access to free sanitary
to give everyone access to free sanitary
to give everyone access to free sanitary products and coexist last year made
products and coexist last year made
products and coexist last year made international headlines for our idea to
international headlines for our idea to
international headlines for our idea to create immense rural policy so who are
create immense rural policy so who are
create immense rural policy so who are coexist coexist is a vibrant social
coexist coexist is a vibrant social
coexist coexist is a vibrant social enterprise based in Bristol
seeks to create social change through
seeks to create social change through community empowerment I was the director
community empowerment I was the director
community empowerment I was the director there for seven years and their people
there for seven years and their people
there for seven years and their people Development Manager how exists is
Development Manager how exists is
Development Manager how exists is responsible for many many innovative
responsible for many many innovative
responsible for many many innovative projects and ideas but it was two years
projects and ideas but it was two years
projects and ideas but it was two years ago when something truly remarkable
ago when something truly remarkable
ago when something truly remarkable happened
happened
happened I saw a member of staff bent double
I saw a member of staff bent double
I saw a member of staff bent double white as a sheet clearly in a lot of
white as a sheet clearly in a lot of
white as a sheet clearly in a lot of pain over reception and still serving
pain over reception and still serving
pain over reception and still serving customers I did what any compassionate
customers I did what any compassionate
customers I did what any compassionate human would do and as her line manager
human would do and as her line manager
human would do and as her line manager I obviously stoled her to go home but it
I obviously stoled her to go home but it
I obviously stoled her to go home but it wasn’t as simple as that
wasn’t as simple as that
wasn’t as simple as that she started to shoo me away with those
she started to shoo me away with those
she started to shoo me away with those four very familiar words it’s just my
four very familiar words it’s just my
four very familiar words it’s just my period I knew those words in my own mind
period I knew those words in my own mind
period I knew those words in my own mind and in hundreds of thousands of women
and in hundreds of thousands of women
and in hundreds of thousands of women across the UK I didn’t know it then but
across the UK I didn’t know it then but
across the UK I didn’t know it then but this very British attitude putting on
this very British attitude putting on
this very British attitude putting on the brave face turns out to be a very
the brave face turns out to be a very
the brave face turns out to be a very global response to menstral suffering in
global response to menstral suffering in
global response to menstral suffering in that moment I got this bizarre sort of
that moment I got this bizarre sort of
that moment I got this bizarre sort of excitement because I knew I could do
excitement because I knew I could do
excitement because I knew I could do something this was a basic human rights
something this was a basic human rights
something this was a basic human rights issue and as an innovative company maybe
issue and as an innovative company maybe
issue and as an innovative company maybe we could trial something we could test
we could trial something we could test
we could trial something we could test drive something new and end the
drive something new and end the
drive something new and end the suffering and the taboo around
suffering and the taboo around
suffering and the taboo around menstruation in the workplace so I got
menstruation in the workplace so I got
menstruation in the workplace so I got to work and invited the amazing
to work and invited the amazing
to work and invited the amazing Alexandra Pope co-founder of red school
Alexandra Pope co-founder of red school
Alexandra Pope co-founder of red school and co-author of wild power she X shared
and co-author of wild power she X shared
and co-author of wild power she X shared an expertise in helping people recognize
an expertise in helping people recognize
an expertise in helping people recognize the innate intelligence of the menstrual
the innate intelligence of the menstrual
the innate intelligence of the menstrual cycle we knew that this was going to be
cycle we knew that this was going to be
cycle we knew that this was going to be valuable to many other people so we
valuable to many other people so we
valuable to many other people so we invited a hundred different business
invited a hundred different business
invited a hundred different business is to come in to learn from her the
is to come in to learn from her the
is to come in to learn from her the media went wild periods were being
media went wild periods were being
media went wild periods were being talked about from Bristol to Beijing
talked about from Bristol to Beijing
talked about from Bristol to Beijing where he were contacted from as far as
where he were contacted from as far as
where he were contacted from as far as the Czech Republic
the Czech Republic
the Czech Republic we’re on talk shows in the USA in
we’re on talk shows in the USA in
we’re on talk shows in the USA in Australia and of course the tabloids
let’s just say that the response varied
let’s just say that the response varied massively but what was really clear was
massively but what was really clear was
massively but what was really clear was that we touched a nerve and this
that we touched a nerve and this
that we touched a nerve and this conversation was alive and the taboo was
conversation was alive and the taboo was
conversation was alive and the taboo was being smashed right before our eyes
surprisingly some of the biggest initial
surprisingly some of the biggest initial critics were women I fully understood
critics were women I fully understood
critics were women I fully understood that women who had strived so hard
that women who had strived so hard
that women who had strived so hard trying to create equality in the
trying to create equality in the
trying to create equality in the workplace by being treated the same as
workplace by being treated the same as
workplace by being treated the same as men would be really threatened by these
men would be really threatened by these
men would be really threatened by these ideas one comment that sticks in the
ideas one comment that sticks in the
ideas one comment that sticks in the mind is you’re putting feminism back by
mind is you’re putting feminism back by
mind is you’re putting feminism back by a hundred years by doing this but for
a hundred years by doing this but for
a hundred years by doing this but for every criticism there were voices of
every criticism there were voices of
every criticism there were voices of encouragement it felt like we were
encouragement it felt like we were
encouragement it felt like we were receiving a thunderous accolade for
receiving a thunderous accolade for
receiving a thunderous accolade for daring to go into new territory for
daring to go into new territory for
daring to go into new territory for saying the unsayable women have an
saying the unsayable women have an
saying the unsayable women have an innate natural cycle that is intelligent
innate natural cycle that is intelligent
innate natural cycle that is intelligent evolutionary and life-giving it is a
evolutionary and life-giving it is a
evolutionary and life-giving it is a power not a problem and we need to value
power not a problem and we need to value
power not a problem and we need to value its potential and not treat it as a
its potential and not treat it as a
its potential and not treat it as a sickness
my favorite comment came from a 60 year
my favorite comment came from a 60 year old man he said I want to thank you I’ve
old man he said I want to thank you I’ve
old man he said I want to thank you I’ve got a wife and two daughters and I’ve
got a wife and two daughters and I’ve
got a wife and two daughters and I’ve worked my entire life so I know how
worked my entire life so I know how
worked my entire life so I know how important this is he clearly understood
important this is he clearly understood
important this is he clearly understood the challenges his family had endured
the challenges his family had endured
the challenges his family had endured trying to work within the structures
trying to work within the structures
trying to work within the structures that are designed for men what he made
that are designed for men what he made
that are designed for men what he made me realize is that true
me realize is that true
me realize is that true is about valuing difference and
is about valuing difference and
is about valuing difference and accommodating it the monstre policy we
accommodating it the monstre policy we
accommodating it the monstre policy we proposed was fully supported by all the
proposed was fully supported by all the
proposed was fully supported by all the men and women that coexists so how did
men and women that coexists so how did
men and women that coexists so how did it work
it work
it work we we started by exploring a blanket –
we we started by exploring a blanket –
we we started by exploring a blanket – Damon paid minstrel leave but very
Damon paid minstrel leave but very
Damon paid minstrel leave but very quickly we realized this wasn’t going to
quickly we realized this wasn’t going to
quickly we realized this wasn’t going to work for us at this time women were
work for us at this time women were
work for us at this time women were starting to track their cycles and
starting to track their cycles and
starting to track their cycles and analyze their needs departments were
analyze their needs departments were
analyze their needs departments were investigating how they could support and
investigating how they could support and
investigating how they could support and accommodate staff but it was clear it
accommodate staff but it was clear it
accommodate staff but it was clear it was not going to be a one-size-fits-all
was not going to be a one-size-fits-all
was not going to be a one-size-fits-all solution and why should it be we’re all
solution and why should it be we’re all
solution and why should it be we’re all different and the nature of our work is
different and the nature of our work is
different and the nature of our work is different – it became clear that a flexi
different – it became clear that a flexi
different – it became clear that a flexi time model would be our very best fit
time model would be our very best fit
time model would be our very best fit this allowed women who were tracking
this allowed women who were tracking
this allowed women who were tracking their cycle to plan ahead take time off
their cycle to plan ahead take time off
their cycle to plan ahead take time off and put it back in what we realized was
and put it back in what we realized was
and put it back in what we realized was that by having the option of paying it
that by having the option of paying it
that by having the option of paying it back or passing it over to coat to cover
back or passing it over to coat to cover
back or passing it over to coat to cover staff all hours with them accounted for
staff all hours with them accounted for
staff all hours with them accounted for crucially menstral flexi time actually
crucially menstral flexi time actually
crucially menstral flexi time actually relieves the stigma that women are being
relieves the stigma that women are being
relieves the stigma that women are being privileged
privileged
privileged over men the moment of our policy was in
over men the moment of our policy was in
over men the moment of our policy was in place I went home and I felt very
place I went home and I felt very
place I went home and I felt very strange and unfamiliar sensation I’m
strange and unfamiliar sensation I’m
strange and unfamiliar sensation I’m allowed to be here and look after myself
allowed to be here and look after myself
allowed to be here and look after myself all of a sudden I realized that the
all of a sudden I realized that the
all of a sudden I realized that the shame wasn’t there and I realized that
shame wasn’t there and I realized that
shame wasn’t there and I realized that this was one of my most crucial
this was one of my most crucial
this was one of my most crucial learnings and I called it the permission
learnings and I called it the permission
learnings and I called it the permission field it’s a culture of trust that
field it’s a culture of trust that
field it’s a culture of trust that relieves the stress anxiety and shame of
relieves the stress anxiety and shame of
relieves the stress anxiety and shame of taking menstrual leave we realized that
taking menstrual leave we realized that
taking menstrual leave we realized that the fear of these judgements was often
the fear of these judgements was often
the fear of these judgements was often crippling and actually increases
crippling and actually increases
crippling and actually increases suffering brought on about by our
suffering brought on about by our
suffering brought on about by our periods
periods
periods I have personally suffered with
I have personally suffered with
I have personally suffered with dysmenorrhea but
dysmenorrhea but
dysmenorrhea but five years this is meant I usually have
five years this is meant I usually have
five years this is meant I usually have very heavy and painful periods even for
very heavy and painful periods even for
very heavy and painful periods even for me with the acceptance
me with the acceptance
me with the acceptance I felt through the policy I actually
I felt through the policy I actually
I felt through the policy I actually found my periods had become less painful
found my periods had become less painful
found my periods had become less painful and less debilitating by listening to my
and less debilitating by listening to my
and less debilitating by listening to my body I’m resting when I needed to I
body I’m resting when I needed to I
body I’m resting when I needed to I recovered quicker and was morphic
recovered quicker and was morphic
recovered quicker and was morphic effective and productive but there is
effective and productive but there is
effective and productive but there is another key aspect to this work we have
another key aspect to this work we have
another key aspect to this work we have separated menstruation from sickness no
separated menstruation from sickness no
separated menstruation from sickness no one should be stigmatized for taking
one should be stigmatized for taking
one should be stigmatized for taking time off for a normal natural cycle
time off for a normal natural cycle
time off for a normal natural cycle there are more serious conditions such
there are more serious conditions such
there are more serious conditions such as endometriosis and premenstrual
as endometriosis and premenstrual
as endometriosis and premenstrual dysphoric disorder which will need extra
dysphoric disorder which will need extra
dysphoric disorder which will need extra support and care but so far our staff
support and care but so far our staff
support and care but so far our staff have experienced a profound effect on
have experienced a profound effect on
have experienced a profound effect on their well-being but not everybody was
their well-being but not everybody was
their well-being but not everybody was ready to accept our ideas right away
ready to accept our ideas right away
ready to accept our ideas right away paradigm shifts are generally preceded
paradigm shifts are generally preceded
paradigm shifts are generally preceded by resistance and as I rememba for our
by resistance and as I rememba for our
by resistance and as I rememba for our policy has received a critical response
policy has received a critical response
policy has received a critical response as well as its champions what we needed
as well as its champions what we needed
as well as its champions what we needed next was to be able to explain our ideas
next was to be able to explain our ideas
next was to be able to explain our ideas and demonstrate the value and importance
and demonstrate the value and importance
and demonstrate the value and importance and then I met the amazing Lara Owen a
and then I met the amazing Lara Owen a
and then I met the amazing Lara Owen a magnificent woman who gave us the
magnificent woman who gave us the
magnificent woman who gave us the language the science and the deep
language the science and the deep
language the science and the deep systems-thinking to develop our policy
systems-thinking to develop our policy
systems-thinking to develop our policy and address some very valid concerns
and address some very valid concerns
and address some very valid concerns Lara is also a leader in the field of
Lara is also a leader in the field of
Lara is also a leader in the field of menstruation an author of her blood is
menstruation an author of her blood is
menstruation an author of her blood is gold but it was her background in
gold but it was her background in
gold but it was her background in business that provided the valuable
business that provided the valuable
business that provided the valuable insights into how to create a genuinely
insights into how to create a genuinely
insights into how to create a genuinely effective and robust model we hope to
effective and robust model we hope to
effective and robust model we hope to use this research to convince leaders in
use this research to convince leaders in
use this research to convince leaders in enterprise that menstral flexi time is a
enterprise that menstral flexi time is a
enterprise that menstral flexi time is a valuable tool for organizations to
valuable tool for organizations to
valuable tool for organizations to explore worldwide we found that it
explore worldwide we found that it
explore worldwide we found that it builds builds commitment resilience and
builds builds commitment resilience and
builds builds commitment resilience and increases well-being and productivity in
increases well-being and productivity in
increases well-being and productivity in the work
the work
the work place I’d like to leave you with some
place I’d like to leave you with some
place I’d like to leave you with some final thoughts menstruation is not
final thoughts menstruation is not
final thoughts menstruation is not solely a female issue it affects
solely a female issue it affects
solely a female issue it affects everyone it is the natural cycle that
everyone it is the natural cycle that
everyone it is the natural cycle that brings new life and we can now no longer
brings new life and we can now no longer
brings new life and we can now no longer ignore that even at work none of us
ignore that even at work none of us
ignore that even at work none of us would be here today without it so it
would be here today without it so it
would be here today without it so it unites humanity and should not separate
unites humanity and should not separate
unites humanity and should not separate us which it has done for far too long so
us which it has done for far too long so
us which it has done for far too long so we don’t need to fight against our
we don’t need to fight against our
we don’t need to fight against our nature we can work with it and this will
nature we can work with it and this will
nature we can work with it and this will benefit people and businesses alike so I
benefit people and businesses alike so I
benefit people and businesses alike so I ask you let’s remember that menstruation
ask you let’s remember that menstruation
ask you let’s remember that menstruation is a power not a problem it can liberate
is a power not a problem it can liberate
is a power not a problem it can liberate us to be the best selves and everyone
us to be the best selves and everyone
us to be the best selves and everyone deserves that right let’s break through
deserves that right let’s break through
deserves that right let’s break through that discomfort of talking about our
that discomfort of talking about our
that discomfort of talking about our periods so that they can be valued and
periods so that they can be valued and
periods so that they can be valued and integrated into our lives and together
integrated into our lives and together
integrated into our lives and together let’s end this workplace taboo period
”
Be First to Comment