100 Tampons

December 3, 2020 7:55 AM

Yes it's that Sally Ride story, put to beautiful song. [previously]
posted by phunniemee (9 comments total)

Song written by the inimitable Marcia Belsky, hilarious comedian of my acquaintance , also known for The Headless Women of Hollywood (previously).
posted by rabbitbookworm at 8:50 AM on December 3, 2020

Wow, I'd never heard that story. That's something else.
posted by Jess the Mess at 11:12 AM on December 3, 2020

This has been in my head for the last 2 days and I'm not even mad. She did this perfectly.
posted by gursky at 11:31 AM on December 3, 2020 [3 favorites]

This could really use an Alanis Morissette mashup.
posted by miguelcervantes at 2:32 PM on December 3, 2020 [1 favorite]

I've heard this story a lot and one thing that annoys me about it is that it never includes a response as to what "the right number" might be.

In preparation for Ride's one week trip on the Space Shuttle, Engineers asked Ride, "Is 100 the right number?" "That would not be the right number," she told them.


Now, sure, there should be some women on the engineering staff. But as I understand it (which isn't all that much) it's a pretty variable number, person to person.
The story presents 100 as an absolutely obviously, comically, wrong number.
But I can't quite figure out if it's obviously too high or obviously too low. (Or if I'm completely missing the point in a different way)

If 100 is not the right number (taking into account sensible engineering margins etc. etc. ) what would you say is the right number?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:27 PM on December 3, 2020

I've heard this story a lot and one thing that annoys me about it is that it never includes a response as to what "the right number" might be.

There is some discussion in the previously about this, with KathrynT saying 30 is a good starting point.
posted by miguelcervantes at 4:41 PM on December 3, 2020 [1 favorite]

Going back and forth over what is "the right number" misses a major point. Go to Sally Ride, say "how many tampons do you think you'll need," and then since it's space travel, triple that number for redundancy.

Going in hot and ignorant with such a ludicrously wrong number is offensive. If you're not sure, either admit complete ignorance and ask, or do your homework.

I am also arguing about this on the badwomensanatomy subreddit right now, and the example I provided there is it's the difference between a guy asking, "women pee out of their clit, right?" and "which hole do women pee out of?" One is an honest question borne of ignorance, the other barges in, sexism first.
posted by phunniemee at 4:51 PM on December 3, 2020 [4 favorites]

Also, from the previously:

The way I read the question about 100 being the right number was more as a nasty jab intended to highlight her difference, not a humorous glimpse at male cluelessness. Those women put up with a LOT of that shit.

posted by miguelcervantes at 4:56 PM on December 3, 2020 [4 favorites]

I liked when she suggested having...33 tampons? To which I was all, that's about right.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:19 PM on December 3, 2020