That's it! I know how we can win this thing. :p You want to know how to bring down the TSA? Women, schedule your upcoming flights accordingly. The TSA is no match for PMS.

Very disturbing. I could not bear to read through all the quotes.

A woman was told to REMOVE her sanitary napkin? What is wrong with these TSA idjits?? I'm a menstruating woman, so QED, I'm gonna blow up a plane.

Jeez, just try me, TSA. I would just LOVE to pull down my pants in the middle of the checkpoint, remove and slap down a soaked-thru sanitary napkin for all to see.

Seriously, enough is enough. This insanity has to be protested, loudly. It has to stop.

.....

Never trust anything that bleeds for 5 days and doesn't die... :D

From the ACLU link:

On another thread a few posters blame the passenger for these things happening. I cannot fathom how anyone can blame them for 'allowing' it to happen.

When the ramp-up of WBI started earlier this year, a number of people noted here that either the NoS or the patdown would reveal more sanitary items, adult diapers, colostomy bags, etc than had been found by the WTMD. A number of people (BubbaLoop, especially, I recall) asked how these items would be dealt with, and the TSA types assured us that there was a "process" but that it was "SSI." Well, I guess we know now what the process is. :td::td:

I'll have to dig up the link where an older woman was forced to remove and show her incontinence pad.

Edit: found it.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...-rights-6.html

It may sound crude and backwards but there is a need for old fashion stocks in airports these days.

When TSA employees do things like mentioned above the TSA screener should be locked in the stocks for a long period and subject to the abuses from the public.

And then fired!

Well, I feel much better now.



:rolleyes:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/t...ns-body-scans/

I hope it was handed to the screener. Everyone is always grateful for such little gifts.

The TSA is really beginning to get into some sick territory - I don't see how they will be able to continue in this manner which goes far beyond the bounds of decency. Here's another tampon report that hit the top of the sfgate charts:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...id=78004&tsp=1

More like shoved in the screener's face.

This. In spades.

Cali
PS: People, please get indignant. Make your voice carry. "What do you mean, what IS this? Do you NOT know what a sanitary napkin is for? Do you not know what menstruation is? Perhaps you should call your supervisor over here immediately!"

Wow - this sounds like some sort of deranged sitcom. But oh no, it is our beloved country. Land of the free and home of the brave...

I've thought hard about this scenario. If this happens to me when I opt out tomorrow, I will very politely pull it out and drop it at her feet for a more thorough inspection. After all, anything to cooperate with the TSA in the spirit of national security...

Does Congress hear and see these things? Honestly - with all the horrendous stories out there that are clearly supported by corroboration (witness, video, or audio) how can lawmakers NOT be taking notice? How can this be allowed to happen for even ONE more day???! :confused:

You are asking the wrong question.

Does Congress care? And we all know the answer to that.

What do you want to bet that even after handling these 'items' w/assorted bodily fluids present , the smurfette's still won't see a reason to change their gloves w/o an argument.

Since the scanner is supposed to be the same sex:

"How can a woman not understand menstruation? Are you really a guy in drag?"

?? I don't think the scanner has to be the same sex. They are in a booth and supposedly have no direct visibility of the individual they are scanning and can not distinguish the face.

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Though I don't normally use sanitary pads, I will for this occasion just in case I get the opportunity to gross out a herd of idio...umm, I mean TSOs. :D

Not all TSOs can be like this - I mean, there have to be some that are on familiar terms with common sense and dignity. What normal person would like to admit that they fondle strangers all day for a living? It must be humilating for the normal ones.

This. It's why we're hearing reports of "DDs" and "cuties" being pulled out for NoS - one dude helping out his pornoscanner screener buddy.

Who Needs a Heads Up?
 

Do you think they are nodding off and that's why they need a cutie alert?

There's no male / female distinction at the checkpoint, and you don't think they change the scanner-viewing TSO with every passenger depending on gender, do you? Why do you think the selectees include a strangely high proportion of cute young women, procured by male TSOs? Do the math. This has nothing to do with "security" and everything to do with getting to see women naked.

SSI and sanitary products
 

So we know Pistole confirmed scanners can detect pads but will not say whether this necessarily leads to a patdown. We also know not every woman wearing one gets a groin check. I think one woman reported here going through a scanner and only getting hands swabbed.

A logical explanation is either they don't detect them always or they do but cant always tell what they are.

One possibility, and this would include incontinence products, is that if completely dry they show up if at all more like clothing. The plastic layer it seems would still show up but it's pretty thin and don't know whether the scanners would differentiate it from clothing. But any liquid/gel in either type of item may make it more likely to be considered an anomaly.

Pantyliners are pretty thin but reusable ones need a snap or velcro closure so that could be the real anomaly in that case.

Any other guesses? Would love to see someone like Katie Couric pose these questions to Pistole.

Yeh, one of those female multimillionaires. Or would they toss puff questions in order to assure the government "we're safe"?

I don't even get it anymore, but I guess reusable pads (which are wonderful things) are another thing I can't go through security with.

The TSA really hates us womenfolk. I thought this before, but in 16 hours on FT, I know this now. *sigh*

So, TMI, but my monthly friend is here and I have a flight later this week.

Serious question I would like to see one of our resident TSA screeners answer. If I am patted down (since if selected for the scanner I plan to opt-out), how likely is it that the sanitary napkin will be detected and if it is, what is the process for follow up?

Will I be believed if I tell them I'm wearing a sanitary napkin? Will I be asked to prove it by removing it? Will I be told to go to a private/resolution screening?

I can't believe that I have to ask these questions, but I would like to know what the procedure is so that I can be prepared if necessary.

And no, I can't just wear a tampon, I have rather heavy cycles and go through one in an hour so I have to wear a sanitary napkin as backup, especially when traveling and not always knowing the availability and ease of finding a restroom.

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I agree. Really cannot believe that I'm asking this as a serious question. Can any of the resident TSA screeners help me and answer my questions though? Is there anything I should be doing so to make the whole experience easier for me?

You have my compassion - May be TMI
 

As a professional woman who sometimes must travel for my job, you have my deepest sympathies. I mean this. It is hard enough as a professional woman to do our jobs but now we have to add to our angst the stress of our monthly periods. An issue which we have long ago handled, but now it comes at us as urgently as a new currency.

As women, we learn to plan ahead. This is a genetic trait -- from the time of puberty, we learn to calculate and plan to avoid at the very least embarrassment (leaking through our shorts at gym class) - at the worst, real physical damage (i.e. soaking a white leather couch at a job interview). But we have handled it - because we plan ahead. We plan ahead to avoid embarrassment and to work in a man's world. We work with our bodily functions so they are nonexistent in our workplace.

Enter the TSA. With a singular gesture (screening), this government agency has the power of undoing us in the name of security. Never mind your planning, with one invasive screening, the TSA can bring you back to that befuddled thirteen year old girl who wore white pants when her period came early or late.

As a 40+ year old woman, I thought I was done being pensive about my body and its natural wonders -- but these latest developments bring me back to junior high where I feel like I have to apologize and be ashamed for being a girl.

Shame on the TSA.

And that's the problem, right there.

They're not thinking, they're just "following orders".

Sound familiar to anyone else?

If he confirmed it I can't believe someone wouldn't argue "disparate impact" at some point.

Fantastic post and (even being a man) I am behind you 100% Sosiouxme. ^

I have to admit though - when I read your example about potentially soaking a white leather couch during a job interview I literally almost spit my drink out. I know you didn't mean it to be funny (it is sadly the truth) but I got a momentary light moment at that image.

JennyElf,

I have asked this question many times, but gotten no answer from the resident TSOs. There is no way a pat down or a full body scan can differentiate a pad from an underwear bomb. That is the basic problem about imaging technology, and the reason why it shouldn´t be used.

Trace chemical detection makes sense. WBI and pat downs do not.

I don't think men have any frame of reference for this female anatomical issue. It's a measure of how low we've sunk, and how stupidly deferential we've become to an intrusive government bent on humiliating its citizens, that we are even holding these explicit, personal conversations about airline passengers' bodies.

Pardon the reference, but as a sympathetic yet completely-unable-to-relate male, this reminds me of ancient religious laws that regulated this part of female anatomy to ridiculous levels by today's standards. Women had to provide special sacrifices to the priest to be certified clean and participate in societal and religious functions. They could not associate in certain ways with "normal" society while the were menstruating. Otherwise, they had to announce that they were so people could take special precautions. There were many more but this is a representative sample. It was considered a curse and a cause of separation and women were ostracized in some societies.

4000 years of history, understanding and learning and in one fell swoop we take this giant step backwards for totally unnecessary and nonsensical reasons.

Thanks :-). I work in a male dominated field and have learned to deal with the various quirks that entails. Fortunately, I never travel with co-workers and it hasn't been an issue on work travel (yes, just what I always needed, a reminder to my co-workers that I'm female and I have bodily functions like a menstrual cycle). It's not so much embarrassing for me as it probably would be for my male co-workers as they probably wouldn't know how to react.

You're right, we are planners. I would really like to be able to plan ahead and minimize the aggravation. Let's put it this way: my bags are always nicely packed with packing cubes, so if a part shows up funny, they can just rerun the individual cubes and my bag can be repacked quickly. My liquids are stored at the top of my bag so that they are easy to access. I wear shoes with zippers so that they are easy to remove. Everything in my pockets goes into my purse after the ID check so that nothing can get lost. I purchase my laptop bags based on design and ease of getting the laptop out and then back in w/o having to open the entire bag, just a separate pocket or section. Even traveling with two laptops, I can separate everything out into bins in less than a minute and myself back together on the other side in less than a minute again.

I am a seasoned traveler, and have learned how to get through security with minimal pain or fuss. However, I cannot do a thing about my body's natural functions (and no, I'm not going to load my body with hormones to stop or change my cycle) and there appears to be nothing I can do to prepare or make the pat-down while I'm on my menstrual cycle easier for everyone. *sigh* Guess, I'll just hope that I'm not selected for the scanner. So far I've done pretty well with the self-directed opt out, but sooner or later, I imagine my luck is going to run out.

JennyElf, what about a menstrual cup? Or a diaphragm worn for fluid retention rather than fluid exclusion? Would that solve the problem long enough to get through the scope-and-grope?

My flight is tomorrow. No way am I going to be able to get one and figure out how to use it and be adjusted to it in time. Diaphragms require an GYN exam to get properly fitted. Also, would prefer not to have to figure out the mechanics of one in a public bathroom (once on the other side of security). I understand some people love their menstrual cups and they aren't too difficult to work with, but they strike me as something I should get used to inserting and properly positioning. Last thing I'd want is to do it incorrectly (and get fluids everywhere) when I don't have easy access to spare clothing and a private bathroom.

It is something I have thought of in the past, but I was never all that enthused about them in the first place.