The original idea for this essay was to write about the time I was arguing with my a Marine friend of mine about women serving in combat roles.

We’d both served in the USMC infantry, and knew that most of the usual objections (physical size, temperament) were bullshit. And he knew I knew that, so he was trying a different argument:

”Women need multiple sanitary products every month!” he said. “Can you imagine the logistical nightmare?”

“Pack it in the MRE’s,” I countered. Field rations already included little tissue packs.

He got a look of horror. “Can you imagine,” he said, “opening an MRE and finding…a TAMPON…in it?”

Apparently if there had been tampons in the halls of Montezuma, the devil dogs would have turned tail.

My response - and the intended point of this essay - was to explain how ridiculous his fragile masculinity was. After all, tampons were developed in World War I to plug bullet wounds. Then nurses realized that they could be used as a menstrual product.

It was supposed to be an essay about how fragile masculinity can literally kill a man.

It was a great hook. Except it wasn’t true.

The argument with my uncle - including my brilliant counter-argument - turned out to be full of errors that became obvious after 15 minutes of research h.

In descending order of “Duh!”:

Tampons pre-date bullets by several millennia.

Combat medics would much rather use Kerlix

Cellucotton (used in Kotex) was developed in WW1 & used as menstrual pads - not tampons.

Turns out it was a story about two men confidently talking nonsense.

Writers have the responsibility to check assumptions, especially when we’re sure.

It’s not hard, or inconvenient.

It’s just uncomfortable, because we want to feel smart - to be right.

Don’t let the fear of being wrong keep you from the truth.

Huh. Turns out to be about fragile masculinity after all.

This Was Going to Be About a Big Tough Marine Being Terrified of Tampons. Instead, It’s About Checking Your Assumptions Before You Write.

The original idea for this essay was to write about the time I was arguing with my a Marin

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