Dad furious as school tells daughter, 13, period pain 'isn't legitimate reason to be off'

A DAD has slammed a school for dismissing his daughter's period pain as an “unauthorised” reason for missing a lesson.

Marcus Alleyne contacted his eldest daughter's secondary school to inform them she would be off ill. 

The dad-of-three was appalled when he was told that her “serious period pains” were not a legitimate reason to take time off sick. 

Izzy, 13, was told that she would be marked with an “unauthorised absence” after her dad, 37, informed the school she was feeling “really rotten”.

Marcus, a former Royal Navy medic, left a message on the school's automated message system before getting a call back. 

Speaking to PlymouthLive, he said: “If I had said she was suffering a migraine then I wouldn't be having this conversation.

"It got me thinking about what we could do. I contacted the school to schedule a meeting with the student welfare officer, but I haven't heard anything yet."

After speaking to his wife, Jo, and daughters, Marcus created a petition to try to make period pains, dysmenorrhoea, a legitimate reason for school absences. 

He added: “I am a proud father of incredibly courageous, fierce and strong girls.

"I'm sure many women would agree, that at some stage, they have suffered significantly from dysmenorrhoea, yes there is actually a medical term for ‘period pains’.

"The reason for this terminology is due to its being a globally recognised medical condition, with a variety of treatment approaches, from over the counter pain relief and a hot water bottle to surgical interventions.

"By not allowing absences due to dysmenorrhoea, which you are doing by considering them unauthorised, shows very clear disparities, and registering absences as unauthorised due to a medical condition only affecting women is a clear demonstration.

"We need to make significant changes not only to the institutions responsible for nurturing our young women and future female leaders but also need to educate the prehistoric mindsets of the policy creators and decision-makers."

'STANDING UP FOR GIRLS'

Other parents have praised the campaign, with some highlighting that they were pleased to see a dad supporting his daughters in this way.

One wrote: "I wish I could sign this petition a million times!!! Not only are all the points valid and important, but I’m am so, so proud that this has been brought to the table for addressing by a man! 

“Showing other men that they can make a difference to the world if they too stand up against inequality and sexism. 

“It’s not just a women’s issue it’s a human rights issue, don’t leave us to fight the discrimination alone. 

“Well done to this father, standing up for your girls and all girls and menstruating people. Amazing."

Marcus added: "I think some people have been particularly encouraged that it's a dad standing up for young women, but I think that's only because of the way we've been fed .

"That it's only a "woman's problem", but it's not, it's a social problem. We're all part of society and if it affects one it affects all.

"There needs to be a change in mindset and not just in schools.

We need to make significant changes not only to the institutions responsible for nurturing our young women and future female leaders

"There's even the added pressure in schools now that if you need the toilet more often than what is considered acceptable during a lesson, such as for a medical reason, then you need to provide a doctor's note. 

“And yet most women, when menstruating, need to go to the toilet more frequently, but you can't get a doctor's note for that.

"For some young women and girls, the process for understanding menstruation starts in schools – and more often that not it's given to a female teacher. 

“But why aren't we equipping male teachers with the same advice and support, to understand this? When it comes to making policy, let's be honest – most school's senior leadership is predominantly males.

"We have access to education in school, so why is it in 2021 that menstruation is still a stigma, why is it not being discussed.

"The message being put across is 'you need to go to work when you're not feeling well, you have to deliver, suck it up'.”

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