Airport Scanners and Feminine Hygiene

[jas]

Sorry men...

I''m flying out of OHare today...I know they implemented full body scans and do not know if they are being used for primary or secondary tests.

I know I am not the only woman who has been scanned during her period, and I know the people looking at the scans are in another room, and I know that my face is blurred in the scan, but I have heard that sometimes tampons/pads can trigger further checks/pat downs.

Anyone had experience with this? It''s making me a little nervous about flying today...but I''m a nervous flyer anyway.

 

[treefrog]

From what I see, randomly selected people go through the full body scan. Even then, you can opt-out but you will be subject to a traditional search.

I think they have more than one now but this link may help: O''Hare scanners

I don''t think I''m a fan of this technology and I feel for you. Hopefully, you won''t be randomly picked and have nothing to worry about. Have a safe trip.

Treefrog

 

[jas]

Thanks Treefrog...between Newark and Ohare (the two airports I''m flying through) it seems unlikely I''ll be searched. However, my luck is pretty outstanding with this sort of thing.

I''ll report back!

 

[elrohwen]

I''ve never heard of this! I''ve heard of the full body search, but not the tampon thing. Crazy.

Hopefully you won''t be searched. In over 100 flights (in the US) I''ve only be searched once and that was when I re-booked my flight just hours before, so my ticket was flagged.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Call an attorney. Sue them for sexual descrimination. lol!

Hope you have a smooth flight

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Whatever you do, please DO NOT beat down the TSA agents if they laugh at you!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 5/14/2010 10:51:44 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Whatever you do, please DO NOT beat down the TSA agents if they laugh at you!!

If they laugh, isn''t that sexual harrassment. Sue them.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

ugh! sorry Jas, hope that you aren''t picked!!!

 

[monarch64]

Um, I made it through security twice with a coughpersonalmassagercough in my carry-on twice last year...I don''t think they''ll stop you for a tampon. Are they going to start stopping people who have gum in their mouths, breast implants, penis implants, etc.? If so I have a lot to worry about...hee hee.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:01:25 PM
Author: monarch64
Um, I made it through security twice with a coughpersonalmassagercough in my carry-on twice last year...I don''t think they''ll stop you for a tampon. Are they going to start stopping people who have gum in their mouths, breast implants, penis implants, etc.? If so I have a lot to worry about...hee hee.

Well, I was stopped AND given a pat-down because I was wearing a Victoria''s Secret push-up bra through the body scanner earlier this year when I was headed out to Vegas; so not only is there some guy behind the wall staring at your nipples hard enough to flag upwardly shifted ones for additional fondling, but hey dude, thanks for outing my breasts'' lingerie-induced enhancement with my traveling companions, TSA!



Monarch, you are a brave, brave woman to travel the way you do.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Can pregnant women go through the scanner? It might be cool to see the little baby skeleton inside me via x-ray...

 

[HopeDream]

I''m pretty sure the security folk will get the hang of it pretty quick - no one wants to anger a menstrating woman! (She''ll take out your eyes!) I think you can request to pe examined by a female security person if you wish.

I do wonder about folks with extensive peircings "down there" though.

I''m sure at this point security has seen it all.

 

[kenny]

Why worry about what is just natural?
I see the body, and its processes, as just what it is and nothing to feel shame, embarrassment or anxiety over.

Airport security is just an unfortunate given in this day and age.

I never worry that women are ogling over me or thinking " unwanted friendly" thoughts.
Maybe guys just don't get.

 

[Girlrocks]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:15:11 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis

Date: 5/14/2010 12:01:25 PM
Author: monarch64
Um, I made it through security twice with a coughpersonalmassagercough in my carry-on twice last year...I don''t think they''ll stop you for a tampon. Are they going to start stopping people who have gum in their mouths, breast implants, penis implants, etc.? If so I have a lot to worry about...hee hee.

Well, I was stopped AND given a pat-down because I was wearing a Victoria''s Secret push-up bra through the body scanner earlier this year when I was headed out to Vegas; so not only is there some guy behind the wall staring at your nipples hard enough to flag upwardly shifted ones for additional fondling, but hey dude, thanks for outing my breasts'' lingerie-induced enhancement with my traveling companions, TSA!



Monarch, you are a brave, brave woman to travel the way you do.

I have never spit water all over my laptop...until now. That totally caught me off guard. And is HILARIOUS.

 

[Circe]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:56:49 PM
Author: kenny
Why worry about what is just natural?

I see the body, and its processes, as just what it is and nothing to feel shame, embarrassment or anxiety over.


Airport security is just an unfortunate given in this day and age.


I never worry that women are ogling over me or thinking '' unwanted friendly'' thoughts.

Maybe guys just don''t get.

Probably not ... you''re one of the good ones, Kenny, but the bare fact is that you probably don''t feel physically vulnerable a lot of the time. Women do, both because of general biology, and because of social conditioning. "Unwanted friendly" thoughts can represent a physical risk, or the risk of demeaning or uncomfortable attention for someone else''s jollies. I''m totally menses-friendly, but the idea of a TSA screener asking me to pull out my tampon to prove I was really on the rag as opposed to say, smuggling explosives, does feel a little invasive to me, body-friendly as I may be.

 

[kenny]

Date: 5/14/2010 1:30:28 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 5/14/2010 12:56:49 PM
Author: kenny
Why worry about what is just natural?
I see the body, and its processes, as just what it is and nothing to feel shame, embarrassment or anxiety over.
Airport security is just an unfortunate given in this day and age.
I never worry that women are ogling over me or thinking ' unwanted friendly' thoughts.
Maybe guys just don't get.

Probably not ... you're one of the good ones, Kenny, but the bare fact is that you probably don't feel physically vulnerable a lot of the time. Women do, both because of general biology, and because of social conditioning. 'Unwanted friendly' thoughts can represent a physical risk, or the risk of demeaning or uncomfortable attention for someone else's jollies. I'm totally menses-friendly, but the idea of a TSA screener asking me to pull out my tampon to prove I was really on the rag as opposed to say, smuggling explosives, does feel a little invasive to me, body-friendly as I may be.

I really want to understand the perspective of women.
I get that the biological differences result in a predator and prey component to sexuality in which the genders are not equal.

Can airport security really can have a woman remove an in-use tampon to prove it is not something else, or is that a worse-case hypothetical?
That is indeed horrifying and humiliating if that really occurs.
I'd be curious if there really is documentation of this.
That sounds like a PR nightmare that would hit every headline worldwide.

In defense of security I assume it is possible for a female terrorist to hide something there that could bring a jet down, otherwise such a radical measure would not be taken.

Security with respect must be possible.
Traveling should not be demeaning.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/14/2010 2:29:25 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 5/14/2010 1:30:28 PM

Author: Circe

Date: 5/14/2010 12:56:49 PM

Author: kenny

Why worry about what is just natural?

I see the body, and its processes, as just what it is and nothing to feel shame, embarrassment or anxiety over.

Airport security is just an unfortunate given in this day and age.

I never worry that women are ogling over me or thinking '' unwanted friendly'' thoughts.

Maybe guys just don''t get.

Probably not ... you''re one of the good ones, Kenny, but the bare fact is that you probably don''t feel physically vulnerable a lot of the time. Women do, both because of general biology, and because of social conditioning. ''Unwanted friendly'' thoughts can represent a physical risk, or the risk of demeaning or uncomfortable attention for someone else''s jollies. I''m totally menses-friendly, but the idea of a TSA screener asking me to pull out my tampon to prove I was really on the rag as opposed to say, smuggling explosives, does feel a little invasive to me, body-friendly as I may be.

I really want to understand the perspective of women.

I get that the biological differences result in a predator and prey component to sexuality in which the genders are not equal.


Can airport security really can have a woman remove an in-use tampon to prove it is not something else, or is that a worse-case hypothetical?

That is indeed horrifying and humiliating if that really occurs.

I''d be curious to read if there really is documentation of this.


In defense of security I assume it is possible for a female terrorist to hide something there that could bring a jet down, otherwise such a radical measure would not be taken.


Security with respect must be possible.

Traveling should not be demeaning.

Sure, it could happen just as easily as a male terrorist shoving/hiding something in his "southern orifice" that could bring a plane down.

 

[kenny]

Most certainly, if an x-ray scan saw a guy with something "up there" they'd want to examine it.

A man carrying anything there is infinitely more suspicious than a woman using a tampon.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Really? who knows what sort of "therapies" are out there that people might practice for health-related conditions, etc...

I''m willing to bet if you were pulled in and humiliated publicly by TSA due to anything involving tampons, suppositories, heck, even butt plugs called out on a scanner, you would have a hefty settlement coming to you.

 

[monarch64]

Um. If I felt like being a female terrorist you can be damn sure I''m not smuggling explosives in my vagina. Women may be physically inferior as far as strength to men but at the same time we''re smarter and more cunning. Fact.

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:47:29 PM
Author: HopeDream
I''m pretty sure the security folk will get the hang of it pretty quick - no one wants to anger a menstrating woman! (She''ll take out your eyes!) I think you can request to pe examined by a female security person if you wish.

I do wonder about folks with extensive peircings ''down there'' though.

I''m sure at this point security has seen it all.

My sister has a nipple piercing, and they pulled her in for the pat down, though she was more than willing to just flash the dude as proof. Ah, my sister. Such a classy lady. LOL.

 

[Callisto]

Date: 5/14/2010 2:50:51 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Really? who knows what sort of ''therapies'' are out there that people might practice for health-related conditions, etc...


I''m willing to bet if you were pulled in and humiliated publicly by TSA due to anything involving tampons, suppositories, heck, even butt plugs called out on a scanner, you would have a hefty settlement coming to you.

Don''t you''d think they''d take you aside so it wasn''t "public"? And even then no matter how embarrassed you were I''d bet they''d get away with it in defense of public saftey. You''d be shocked what they can get away with. My cousin missed his friend funeral because he got detained for so long for the most ridiculous reasons and he just got his flight comped.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Well I was really just kidding, just wanted to point out the absurdity of it all. Yes it''s possible a would-be terrorist would go this route, it would make more sense than strapping it to the "wee little man" like the underwear bomber did.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:15:11 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis

Well, I was stopped AND given a pat-down because I was wearing a Victoria''s Secret push-up bra through the body scanner earlier this year when I was headed out to Vegas; uso not only is there some guy behind the wall staring at your nipples hard enogh to flag upwardly shifted ones for additional fondling, but hey dude, thanks for outing my breasts'' lingerie-induced enhancement with my traveling companions, TSA!

i feel the same...

what if a female was working behind the scanner and as i was being scanned she turns around and say to another female coworker.....look at his LITTLE THING.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 5/14/2010 3:21:10 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 5/14/2010 12:15:11 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis


Well, I was stopped AND given a pat-down because I was wearing a Victoria''s Secret push-up bra through the body scanner earlier this year when I was headed out to Vegas; uso not only is there some guy behind the wall staring at your nipples hard enogh to flag upwardly shifted ones for additional fondling, but hey dude, thanks for outing my breasts'' lingerie-induced enhancement with my traveling companions, TSA!

i feel the same...

what if a female was working behind the scanner and as i was being scanned she turns around and say to another female coworker.....look at his LITTLE THING.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAA!!!! Funniest thing you''ve EVER said, DF!

 

[monarch64]

*scratches head* What if they can see Diva cups? Diaphragms? IUD''s? The little gold seeds implanted to treat prostate cancer? Ports? On the other hand, this could be a good way to catch those horrible surgery mistakes in which doctors leave insertyourfavoritesurgicalutensilhere inside their patients!

 

[kenny]

They are getting better at understanding the brain.
I would not be surprised if an instrument that can read thoughts is possible within my lifetime.

It will be creepy in the wrong hands but useful in the right ones.

 

[LGK]

Date: 5/14/2010 2:56:54 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 5/14/2010 12:47:29 PM
Author: HopeDream
I'm pretty sure the security folk will get the hang of it pretty quick - no one wants to anger a menstrating woman! (She'll take out your eyes!) I think you can request to pe examined by a female security person if you wish.

I do wonder about folks with extensive peircings 'down there' though.

I'm sure at this point security has seen it all.

My sister has a nipple piercing, and they pulled her in for the pat down, though she was more than willing to just flash the dude as proof. Ah, my sister. Such a classy lady. LOL.

Well, I don't have *that* particular body mod, but I do have a lot of piercings. They do set off the scanner *every freaking time*. Then they pull you aside, wand you, discover your bra underwire beeps and feel you up. Awesome. I never get to fly without a nice friendly boob-grope prior to boarding. I think the worst was when I was wearing a short plaid schoolgirl type skirt, and the wand dude stuck the end of the wand under the edge of my skirt and hoisted it up in front of the whole line. (I was very glad I always make sure to wear the full-butt panties rather than thongs with the short skirts!)

So yeah- anybody with extra metal gets The Wand. I always request privacy for the wand & grope process, after the skirt-lifting incident.

My whole family hates flying with me; they know I always get molested as part of the process and that I slow everyone down for it.

Anyway, those body scanners creep me out.

I hope they don't install them everywhere.

 

[PumpkinPie]

Date: 5/14/2010 3:27:32 PM
Author: monarch64
*scratches head* What if they can see Diva cups? Diaphragms? IUD''s? The little gold seeds implanted to treat prostate cancer? Ports? On the other hand, this could be a good way to catch those horrible surgery mistakes in which doctors leave insertyourfavoritesurgicalutensilhere inside their patients!

this is exactly what I was thinking. For a time I had an IUD and used a Diva Cup - lots to look at for sure

 

[joflier]

Date: 5/14/2010 12:47:29 PM
Author: HopeDream
I''m pretty sure the security folk will get the hang of it pretty quick - no one wants to anger a menstrating woman! (She''ll take out your eyes!) I think you can request to pe examined by a female security person if you wish.

I do wonder about folks with extensive peircings ''down there'' though.

I''m sure at this point security has seen it all.

Exactly. Whatever you have going on ''down there'' - they''ve probably already seen it at least 50 times today.