I was fortunate enough to get to teach on this topic in my Leave No Trace Master Educator course. It may or may not be surprising that with all of the educational materials out there, there is NO set standard specific to women on this subject. I'm hoping to change that with the help of the LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics. Please feel free to leave comments that build on what I have learned over many years of teaching and hiking with women.
To start, a few ideas about teaching this subject to women:
1. While jokes about poop can be entertaining, women often don't share the same sense of humor about their periods. Many women hate the idea of even going to the bathroom in the outdoors, let alone dealing with feminine hygiene products. It actually keeps a lot of women from spending time outside.
2. Women are like spaghetti-everything's connected. Here's what I mean: If a woman is uncomfortable using the bathroom in the woods, she may limit her food and/or water intake in order to avoid the situation. This could lead to dehydration, bladder infections, lack of nutrition etc. All of these things jeopardize not only her experience but everyone that's with her as well. A dehydrated person is not who you want to be roped to on a mountain.
3. Remember the following moderately clever acronym:
T each Women With Women
When you can, use women you know to talk to other women. It can be a wierd subject to hear about
from a man BUT if that's the only option- do it. It needs to be addressed on way or another.
A cknowledge
Recognize that this is possibly an uncomfortable conversation for some women, particularly if they're new
to the outdoors. Treat the topic with respect and let them know you get where they're at.
M ake It Safe
Create a space where women will feel comfortable to ask questions, seek clarification etc. It can be
a great education for the men in your group as well as the women but you have to gauge the group. Jr.
High girls should probably be talked to away from the boys as they'll be embarrassed. Adults, it's probably
okay.
P rofessionalism
It's important to talk like the outdoor professional you are. Treat this subject just as you would map reading
or hanging bear bags. As I stated, this can quickly turn into a safety issue if it's not addressed.
O pportunity
Women tend to be self-sacrificing. They are often used to giving up their needs/wants for the best interests
of their families, friends, co-workers. Believe it or not, we lady-folk can get embarrassed about just asking
for a bathroom break. If you're on a hike, create opportunities for bathroom breaks. Another tip here
(first aid oriented) is if you've been around water (swimsuits), creating time for everyone to change out otheir swimwear. It's not as big of a deal for men, but women can get infections hanging out in wet swimsuits
Why not make sure everyone changes so you don't put women on the spot about it. Remember that many
women are embarrassed by any conversation in this area so be discreet in your health-minded leadership.
N o Bullying
We women have been raised in a culture that tells us to be thin, pretty, shower every day, smell nice, wear
makeup etc. Right or wrong, love it or hate it- it is what it is and you have to meet women where they're at.
They are often out of their element outside where they can't bathe or smell nice. This is NOT the time to
tease women about appearances or hygiene. It's not really ever appropriate but is even less so here, even
if a women seems to be going along with the laughter. Don't allow others in your group to tease either. And
while we're at it, if you catch a women making jokes about herself, she's uncomfortable and you should
assure her that there's no place for her to put herself down either.
So, what DO you teach women about hygiene in the back country?
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
PLAN to have your period, even if its not your time of the month. Altitude, physical activity, dehydration
even being around other women can mess with menstrual cycles. Don't get caught without anything on a
multi-day trip. Yikes. If you want to be a sensitive leader, pack some extra tampons in the group first aid
kit- just in case.
As a leader, I'd advise planning to have this conversation with women before you're at the trailhead.
2. Pack a Bath Bag
I have a little Eagle Creek bag that I use to carry all bathroom products so its easy and discreet to grab
when I'm ready for a bathroom break. It includes:
Toilet Paper
Pads/Tampons
A Nalgene or ziploc baggie covered in duct tape (to pack out trash)
Ibuprofen/Midol
Trowel
Pee Funnel
Hand Sanitizer (REALLY important)
Headlamp in case you need to hit the port-a-tree in the middle of the night
3. Choose the Right Products
Tampon sizes vary by a lot
Its a similar story with pads. Some are like adult diapers, others no thicker than a piece of paper.
Reduce your waste and ditch the applicators and extra packaging. Your saving space at a landfill and
making less trash to carry out with you. It is important to remember that many of these products
incorporate plastics that will NEVER biodegrade. Even if you use all-cotton, organic small tampons,
be responsible for your waste and pack it out like you would any other trash.
4. Consider Alternatives
A. The Diva Cup/The Keeper
Some women (typically the very eco-minded or super outdoorsy) are moving toward the elimination
of pads and tampons all together by using a little cup that catches fluid in their place. These need to
be managed closely in the outdoors because of the maintenance required in emptying them. The waste
is best emptied in a cat hole and away from water as you would with other body wastes. Hand
sanitizer is always important but even more so in managing this device.
B. The Pee Bandana
Some women will cut down on their TP use by using a bandana for urine (ONLY!). If women chose to
do this, they will need to be careful to rinse it out after every use, let it hang outside their packs while
hiking (not in a plastic bag at the bottom of their bag-hello, bacteria!) and give it time to sterilize in
the sun each day. Not many women have adopted the practice but again, its good to know what's
out there. The bandana can also be a great substitute for disposable cleansing wipes.
On my first mountaineering trip, to Mt. Baker, I was the only female and this issue was never addressed. Still being new to the outdoor recreation world, I wasn't sure how to manage these things which led to the issue of avoidance I mentioned earlier. I stopped drinking water because no one told me how to use the bathroom when I was in the middle of an all male rope team traveling up a glacier (ice axes and all). No where to run, no where to hide for bathroom breaks. While I made it to the summit, I was dangerously dehydrated for the descent and I am positive I jeopardized the lives of everyone I was roped too...I thought I was going to pass out. I know better now but that whole situation could have been avoided if my leader had just talked to me about it. Never assume that people know how to take care of themselves in the outdoors, whether it be first aid, hygiene or equipment use. If there's something you want to make sure people know, spell it out for them early on. Even if its a redundancy, its still a good reminder and those who know the information like the back of their hand will probably still appreciate that you're making sure everyone's on the same page.
