Russian lawmaker proposes paid days off for menstruating women

[The Straight Story]

Russian lawmaker proposes paid days off for menstruating women
By Gabriela Baczynska, Reuters

MOSCOW — A Russian lawmaker has asked parliament to give women two days paid leave a month when they menstruate, a move that has irked rights activists worried over creeping conservatism since Vladimir Putin resumed the presidency.

Mikhail Degtyaryov, a member of the nationalist LDPR party led by the outspoken Vladimir Zhirinovsky, wrote on his website that he had proposed a draft law to increase the protection of women at the workplace.

"During that period (of menstruation), most women experience psychological and physiological discomfort. The pain for the fair sex is often so intense that it is necessary to call an ambulance," said Degtyaryov, 32, who is married with two sons.

Degtyaryov, a candidate in a Moscow mayoral election on September 8 who is polling at less than one percent support, said pain during menstruation heightened fatigue, reduced memory and efficiency at work, and provoked distinct emotional discomfort.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/30/19779350-russian-lawmaker-proposes-paid-days-off-for-menstruating-women?lite

[NewThinkingChance40]

1. So he has upset people

by trying to do something that wouldn't really hurt anyone. It might make some people angry, but my view is, if they were to offer me 2 extra paid days off for anything, I would gladly take it.

[cali]

29. of course it hurts women. Put it in context please

it'll be used to marginalize women of child bearing years. It buys into a mythology that women are impaired by menstruation.

[Le Taz Hot]

44. Some women ARE impaired by menstruation.

I was. For 30 years they were DEBILITATING. I went to work anyway, of course, but it would come down to how much work could I get done while enduring crippling pain for 8 hours vs. how much work could I get done zoned out on painkillers. Each woman is different, of course, but many women do suffer incredibly painful periods.

[cali]

46. yes, some women are. I'm not denying that, but the vast majority are not

and there are things that can done to alleviate menstrual pain- not just drugs that zone you out.

[Le Taz Hot]

50. And I'm saying that those women who DO suffer

from debilitating periods should have the option of taking medical leave just as they would take medical leave for other painful conditions -- say, a gout attack. It sucks if you're in a minimum wage job and your choices are to a) work through debilitating pain or b) take time off and lose much-needed pay. This is a medical condition like any other and it should be treated as such.

[cali]

55. Everyone should be able to take medical leave if they really need it.

but hell no to specifically giving women time off for their periods. Their are effective treatments for the majority of women with dysmenorrhea.

I had very painful cramps for a number of years in my late teen- mid twenties. Not only cramps but diarrhea and back pain. I did miss some school and work but not much.

Instituting a law such as the one this asshole suggest is alarming sexist crap that would inevitably be used against women. It would certainly reinforce the glass ceiling.

[Le Taz Hot]

57. Actually, the only effective treatment for women

with dysmenorrhea is pain medication which affects your functionality. Good for you for "toughing it out" but not everyone is able to do this. We all have different threshholds for pain and just because yours is high doesn't mean it is in others.

I understand your point about being sexist legislation and the danger it could pose. But as it stands now, most women, at least in this country, have to take paid sick leave in order to stay home with debilitating cramps. Most people get 5 days a year which, doing simple math will tell you she will have used up all her sick days by May which leaves her with NO sick days for the rest of the year. Like it or not, dysmenorrhea IS a condition unique to women and wouldn't it be nice if those of us who can medically prove dysmenorrhea could be afforded extra days specifically for this condition? That's all I'm sayin'.

[cali]

59. no it's not. hormonal contraceptives is the the primary treatment these days

combined with anti-inflammatories. Also, exercise and diet, for those who don't or can't use the contraceptive therapy- and other alternative treatments- have been found to be effective.

[Mojorabbit]

65. None of these were effective for me back in the day.

Neither were specific exercises or a variety of herbs and supplements.
I am glad those days are over.

[Le Taz Hot]

69. NONE of those worked for me.

NONE.

[Mojorabbit]

63. I was when I was young. The first two days were spent in severe pain. nt

[cali]

68. It's still a terrible sexist proposal that would do far more harm than good

it's called oppression.

[darkangel218]

2. OMG this was so overdue! and needs to be implemented worldwide!

I remember periods in my younger years when I couldnt even move. I was curled up in a ball for a least half day or the whole first day.

Fuking A for Russia! I hope it passes.

[The Straight Story]

3. No wonder Snowden wanted to move there

[darkangel218]

4. Oh huh..

So now you're implying Snowden is a menstruating female? Sexist, disgusting remark on your part.

Welcome to iggy.

[The Straight Story]

5. I dunno, but he sure has a purdy mouth

[TeeYiYi]

70. This post and post #3 are offensive as hell. Just thought you should know. ..nt

TYY

[bunnies]

42. How is it that you see sexism in that post but not in the proposed law?

Makes no sense to me. Personally, I find it extremely offensive for anyone to suggest that I am incapable of being a rational, intelligent, sane woman during my period.

[Orrex]

6. I've wondered about this

Would women want to take off several days each month, essentially broadcasting to the office when they're menstruating?

Or if women are simply granted extra time off without requiring them to disclose their cycles, would it apply to post-menopausal women as well? Would the extra time off be available to everyone, or only to women who can document that they're menstruating?


I think that everyone should get more paid time off, and goodness knows I've seen women suffer terribly from menstrual pain over the years, but I'm curious to see how this might be implemented in a way that would preserve privacy and would also be shielded against abuse.

[darkangel218]

8. Extending the sick paid days to everyone would be an option.

Including men, to avoid gender discrimination. Look how short our vacation time is, here in the US. 2 extra sick days a month won't hurt anyone. And if someone doesn't want to use them, add them to the vacation days.
Its really that simple. Only if the corporate/elite world would care about the rest of us.
I don't see it happening though. Not in my lifetime anyway.

[Orrex]

19. Believe me, I'm totally on board with it

But I can picture the elite assholes saying something like "employees are already granted five personal days per year to use as they see fit, so why should we increase that number?"

Like so much else in teh working world, the scant "privilege" of paid time off (when it exists at all) is owed entirely to the efforts of Unions. If we still had a robust and unionized labor force today, I suspect that we'd be more likely to see something approximating a reasonable time-off policy.

[MNBrewer]

38. Think Russia cares about discrimination?

I doubt it.

[Mojorabbit]

66. Exactly. nt

[cali]

30. this is sexist crap that marginalizes women by the claim that women are impaired during their

childbearing years. How would such a law impact women in the spheres of politics and business?

[cali]

36. one of the worst ideas I've heard in a while.

from the article:

The State Duma lower house of parliament does not meet again until September but human rights campaigners have already dismissed the proposal as sexist.

"This argument is obviously improper, unreasonable and nothing close to being serious," said Anna Sobko, a lawyer at Memorial, Russia's oldest human rights group.

Marina Pisklakova-Parker, head of women's group Anna Center, said the proposal was absurd.

"If we are seriously debating women's efficiency at work during menstruation, we should also consider how fit for work men are after a drinking bout," she said.

[ZombieHorde]

7. That seems like a good policy to me. nt

[LWolf]

9. An ambulance? Really? "Often?"

I have never, in 40+ years of menstruation and now menopause, ever taken a day off.

[darkangel218]

11. Not everyone is the same. there are A LOT of women out there who suffer teribly

And even undergo surgical procedures to correct the pain and heavy bleeding.

Consider yourself lucky.

[LWolf]

16. I am aware that not all women are the same,

and that we all don't experience menstruation the same.

While my symptoms were mostly moderate, with one extreme exception, I know others whose experience was much milder, and more severe. I generally have considered myself lucky; at least luckier than my mom, who did sometimes miss work. Her symptoms were due to excessive scar tissue.

What % of women have symptoms so severe that they need to take time off every month? Any numbers on this?

[Le Taz Hot]

45. Yeah, I wondered about that myself.

I used to have the WORST periods -- 3-4 days of non-stop agony, but I NEVER needed an ambulance, just a place to lie down in just be in misery in my own bed.

[LWolf]

51. I think some of the psychological symptoms

referred to are related to ill-temperedness brought on by cramps, bloating, headache, etc.. My cramps could usually be managed with over-the-counter pain killers. It would last, though, for 6-7 days, and 5 of those would be so heavy that I would need to make restroom trips every hour, and wake up in the middle of the night repeatedly.

I also noticed that, a few days before I would be depressed and generally negative about life, which would suddenly disappear at onset. And after 4 decades, I STILL don't see it coming. These days, it's been wacky for a couple of years and is less frequent or stressful, except for the hot flashes and night sweats.

I think women who need to stay home should, using paid sick days. I think everyone should have paid sick days and use them when they need them.

I'm leery, though, of legislating paid days off for periods. I don't like the idea of women being singled out by their cycles, as if women as a group can't function because of them. It seems like a tool that could lead to a lot of other misogynistic inequalities.

[Le Taz Hot]

56. And I completely understand the argument against.

Otoh, menstruation is a medical condition that is unique to women. That's just the reality. But people are allowed time off for severe pain for other medical conditions, the example I used upthread was a gout attack. Employers allow days off for that painfully debilitating medical condition, why shouldn't those 10% of us who suffer from painful periods get the same benefit? It's almost discriminatory NOT to make those allowance for those who need them as they're not getting equal treatment for the same condition (debilitating pain).

[LWolf]

61. I think that

any debilitating condition should get paid time off; I just don't want to see it dished out by gender, which is ripe for discrimination against women.

[Yo_Mama]

10. Never knew a menstruating woman who had to call an ambulance

Ibuprofen, yes. Ambulance, no.

Is this some sort of weird Russian jobs program?

[darkangel218]

12. Just because it hasnt happened to you, it doesnt mean it doesnt happen. nt

[Yo_Mama]

13. He said "frequently"

I don't think menstrual pain is often so intense that an amubulance must be called.

[darkangel218]

17. 10% of women are incapacitated every month due to heavy/painful menstrual bleeding

http://www.medindia.net/symptoms/painful-menstrual-periods.htm

Besides, they have social healthcare in Russia. I'm don't know the details, but I'm guessing an ambulance ride to the hospital would cost very little if not nothing. I would also assume a lot more people would make use of it in those circumstances.

[treestar]

21. They have it but it may be crappy

Ambulances would be a waste of resources for that I'm thinking.

I remember hearing the pill can be got OTC in Russia, don't know if that is still true. The pill is the best cure.

[XemaSab]

23. Seriously?

If I was in dire pain, the last place I would want to be is sitting in the ER for 6 hours while the doctors treat actual medical emergencies.

Yes, people call the ambulance for stupid stuff, but we're talking about RUSSIA here.

Drink 5 shots of vodka and you'll be doing a lot better.

[darkangel218]

24. lmao!! do you think in every country in the world you have to wait 6 hours

To be seen??

Perheps we should work on changing our ER policies, rather then telling patients who are in pain and losing huge amounts of blood that is not worth seeking medical help.

[Jesus Malverde]

32. +1...nt

[jehop61]

14. What's next?

Segregating women into separate parts of the house when "it's their time"? Or perhaps no sex for days before and after because she's "unclean". Looks like creeping sharia law to me. How about just giving every worker two days a month paid time off for anything at all?

[darkangel218]

18. Oh please!

Exploiting women ( and men) at minimum wage, with no benefits and no sick days is more like the" law "you mentioned.

[cali]

49. this proposed law is all about marginalizing women- and feminists in Russia have been quick to say

so.

let's leave aside the issues of minimum wage and no sex days when discussing this. In no way would the potential benefits of such a law outweigh the potential risks- the risks of women not getting promotions or elected to office, etc. Anyone who doesn't think that a law like this wouldn't be used in such a way, isn't thinking it through.

[pipi_k]

31. I think women should

at least have the option to take those days off if they're feeling badly enough.

I myself never had cramping so awful I couldn't function, but during perimenopause things got a little rough and I was often faced with bleeding that required the use of a Depends to avoid embarrassing accidents.

Nobody who's never gone through that can imagine how it feels to be afraid to move...being covered front to back with stuff I won't even mention...

So yeah...women should have the option of not having to deal with that sort of thing in public.

[Le Taz Hot]

47. ^Raises hand.^

Been there. I won't get into detail either but I remember after sitting down for 20-30 minutes being TERRIFIED to stand up because I knew what was going to happen. Try that in a business meeting.

I agree. It should at least be an option.

[pipi_k]

60. Before I type out

my actual reply, I want to give fair warning to anyone who might get grossed out by a "TMI" post.

Don't read any further.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
OK...another horrible thing that happens during that time, aptly described by a woman on the Power Surge site...

The clots so large that you feel like you are giving birth to liver.

I never got used to the ickiness of those things...and who wants one of them sliding out onto the floor by accident?

[Dash87]

15. It's probably because they might get hysterical!

And don't forget about the bears periods attract. The bears!

[treestar]

20. I had it bad as a teen

Had to stay home the first day. However, that was somewhat unusual, and could be diagnosed as dysmenorrhea. Then it would be no different than any other illness.

Looks like this is not the only country with hysterical right wingers. In fact, this is a little bit weird and creepy. Quite usable by women, too - call in with paid period leave when you don't feel like going in.

[newfie11]

22. Damn I would have loved two extra days off a month when I was working

This guy has obviously not heard of our repug women's policies.
Hope he never does.

[cali]

34. I don't understand why so many on this thread don't get what a terrible for shit idea

this. It will be used to marginalize women of childbearing age. After all, if women are so impaired for 2 days a month, mentally and physically, how can they hold important office or be a CEO. Talk about reinforcing the glass ceiling.

[pnwest]

25. I used to PRAY that the first two days

of my cycle would fall on the weekend, so I wouldn't have to deal with it at work. It's an every-90-minutes ritual of going to the restroom, doing what needs to be done, cleaning things, changing things, hiding things, all the while pretending nothing special is happening so as not to upset the delicate sensibilities of the men around me.

They. Have. No. Idea.

When efforting to describe what's really going on to a male, I ask him to picture himself in this scenario: "Imagine you're standing in the middle of the office having a discussion with a colleague, when suddenly you feel a glob of warm jello sliding around in your underwear. And NOW imagine that you can't react, can't interrupt yourself midsentence to go deal with this, and have to carry on with your discussion like nooooothing's going on".

I'm usually met with a horrified stare of "TMfuckingI!!!", but I can also see realization begin to dawn.

I'd KILL to have those two days off work. Forgive me that my initial reaction to the Russians suggestion is, FUCK yes!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. would you like the entire office to know? would you want to be held up for promotions for this?

wouldnt it make more sense to increase sick days for everybody?

[pnwest]

27. I'd like for it not to be such a taboo that

Having the entire office know IS taboo.

I'd like having the whole office know to not be such a taboo. I'd like for the whole thing to be met with compassion and understanding, and not shame.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

28. i dont want the entire office to know anything specific about me. and the days on which i have cramp

is a very specific thing

they have no right to know what your sickness is, if you dont want them to know, this gives up my privacy and control

this will help women remain second class citizens forever.

[cali]

35. +1000 or more. I'm shocked at the women in this thread supporting this wingnut shit

[UtahLib]

54. Exactly!

Poor little women, they just can't think straight when menstruating. Oh and they surely cannot be trusted to hold a position of any importance. They might bring down the entire company while under the influence of one or more debilitating symptoms of menstruation.

I agree that companies should be more generous with paid personal leave or sick days. Making additional sick days dependent on menstruation because women are incapable of functioning properly during that time is one more excuse for keeping women in their 'place' and out of the big boys club.

[leftstreet]

33. Stupid. Why not add sick/personal time for everyone?

Why marginalize the women?

[leftynyc]

37. Misogynist crap

This will now be used to keep women from important jobs - including President of Russia. All because "some" women get bad cramps and obviously Midol doesn't exist in Russia. Stupid fucking law by the same party that's led by a vicious bigot.

[bunnies]

39. Fuck this sexist bullshit.

Youre going to tell me in inefficient and unstable because of my fucking period?! Kiss my ass. I dont need your condescending pat on the fucking fanny. Asshole.

[cali]

40. and it's obvious that it is just what you said. "the faire sex" emotionally impaired

and yet there are women on this thread cheering it on.

[bunnies]

41. Yeah. Because you know..

We're just delicate little flowers who cant possibly be expected to be rational or intelligent during our periods. Oh, and maybe if the women of Russia are good little girls, they'll get a law allowing them to leave work early to get home and cook the man of the house his dinner.

I was just reading the cheering going on in this thread. Its disgusting. Is that really all it takes to get some women to degrade themselves? Two extra days off a month?! Its a slap in the face to every woman who ever fought for equality. We'll NEVER get it if we have women supporting sexism like this. Never.

[cali]

52. It is disgusting and it's frightening that women would acquiesce so cheerfully to their own oppression

you're expressing this so well I don't have much to add except that I share your sense of outrage.

I don't know when I've been more gobsmacked by comments in a DU thread.

And I want to say that in my twenties I had very painful cramps accompanied by the shits and lower back pain. I never felt like my mental or emotional state was impaired and there were ways then and there are even more ways now, to deal with those issues.

[bunnies]

62. Maybe the women that support this

are the types that dont mind being accused of being on the rag for having a strong opinion about something or disagreeing with a man. Because you know damn well that if this were to become law it leaves the door wide open for such things.

"Kathy doesnt like this idea" "Oh, dont worry about her, she's on the rag. She'll be thinking clearly again next week."
or
"Sorry Kathy, we decided to give the promotion to John. We need someone who can be at the top of their game every day."

Mine used to be awful, too. Severe cramps, pain... I'd even get dizzy and nauseous almost every month. Must have been some sort of miracle that I, in my confused and emotionally unstable state, somehow managed to force my inferior self to function.

[LanternWaste]

43. I think a full and fair compliment of sick-time, vacation-time, and personal-time

I think a full and fair compliment of sick-time, vacation-time, and personal-time, if given to all workers would do a much more efficient job of allowing workers to judge for themselves when they want to/need to show up to work.

[Brickbat]

48. Increased paid time off for everyone is a good thing. Increased paid time off for specific genders

or for specific biological reasons is sexist and can be used as a backhanded oppressive tool.

[cali]

53. exactly. and that's clearly the intent- to oppress.

[LeftishBrit]

58. I am not surprised that he's losing badly (polling at less than one per cent!)

[snooper2]

64. are they going to do it for blue balls as well?

[warrior1]

67. it's called sick leave in America