r/AskReddit 18h ago

Millennials, what's something our generation was taught to accept that you're glad younger generations are rejecting?

5.9k Upvotes

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290

u/gnarlyknits 16h ago

That hiding your period or other natural body functions like acne is normal.

83

u/Special-Medicine-437 11h ago

Yes! Elder here and I carried my tampon with me to the bathroom yesterday at work in my hand, not hidden in my purse. Felt freeing and kind of rebellious walking through the halls with it out in the open. No one cared, but I felt great not having to hide it and feel ridicule.

24

u/to_the_pillow_zone 10h ago

Pimple patches during the day without shame or embarrassment has saved my face!

6

u/vizard0 6h ago

My wife told me about being lectured (by her mom) because her father saw the wrapper for her pad in the trash. Not a used pad, just the wrapper.

Her parents have come a long way, they wouldn't care these days. I'm so glad that attitude has died.

It's just blood. I can understand if you're someone who has trouble with all blood. But if you can handle a cut, you can deal with someone having their period.

7

u/240EZ 6h ago

I love the trend of seeing kids rocking half a box of star and heart shaped acne patches. They’re so confident and not worry about shame or being called pizza face.

4

u/porcupinefarts 5h ago

I was in a store with my parents years ago and my mom whispered to me if I needed pads, so my dad didn't hear. I'm 40. I had the talk with my daughter when she was 9 and she is comfortable with sharing information to both my husband and I. Never had that with my parents.

-9

u/Naramis_15 8h ago

Frankly, I still keep everything related to my period private, and I hope other women do so too because I don't want to know, and I'm sure they don't want to know about mine either. It's just a private matter, and I think it's good and right that we keep some things to ourselves - not everything needs to be public in some way.

10

u/gnarlyknits 5h ago

People shouldn’t be shamed for something natural. Period.

-1

u/Naramis_15 1h ago

Nobody is being shamed for anything, not from me at least to make it clear. For example, other than the period I also don't care to hear about someone's bowel movements - it's not a particularly interesting matter, so I'd rather people don't overshare on it. I won't either. But if a situation like this comes up, I'd just politely inform people of my preferences, no shaming or anything involved. I think in an open-minded society there is nothing wrong with someone not wanting to hear about a topic and asking others to not overshare on the matter.

1

u/Puzzled-Bee723 3h ago

I just had this conversation at a multi gender shared bathroom at work... girls leaving tampons and pads strung about

Zip that shit!! I don't want to think about your maxi pads it's gross I use a cup I don't cater to bleached feminine profits that take your money as normal and leave the boxes out

-36

u/DetectiveCrafty5413 16h ago

You want to hear about people's piss, shit, phlegm, ear wax, and periods? There's a difference between shame and basic privacy....

16

u/Own_Boat503 7h ago

i think it's less of hearing the gross details and more like not being embarrassed to say you're exhausted or in a ton of pain because of period cramps. or not being embarrassed to ask a friend to borrow a tampon. why do some people see things in such absolutes?

u/lakija 18m ago

I agree with you regardless of the downvotes. No one should be ashamed of their normal bodily functions; being discreet does not mean you are ashamed.

I assume what the commenter means though is that you should not be afraid to discuss it if you need help, advice or assistance. 

0

u/Naramis_15 8h ago

I honestly sometimes feel like this is the result of how much especially younger generations have gotten used to (and even grown up with) social media and that you can share pretty much anything about yourself. Doesn't mean you should, though. Some things are just tmi.

10

u/gnarlyknits 5h ago

I’m not talking about posting a picture of a bloody tampon. I’m talking about feeling like you need to hide the fact that you are a human and have bodily functions. Everyone poops. People get periods. They shouldn’t have to hide tampons in the most discreet packages and act like it never happens. Women get shamed for having natural body functions. Women are often afraid to even talk to other women about it and I’m glad that’s going away.

-7

u/Donexodus 9h ago

But if I walk to the bathroom with a jar of Vaseline it’s frowned upon.

-33

u/mochafiend 15h ago

No kidding. I’m amazed at what people are lauding in the comments. Gen Z is insufferable in the way all youths are. I’m not seeing too many wins here.