Period poverty is an issue that affects two out of five people in the U.S. according to a 2021 study. Period poverty is defined as when one cannot afford to purchase menstrual supplies, leaving them with no choice but to go without. So how can we help reduce period poverty here at UI and other institutions? The answer is by providing free menstrual products on campus, encouraging more education on periods themselves and promoting period equity.
Luckily, UI does have free menstrual products in bathrooms. This is a great resource and assists people who may be struggling to afford period products. Unfortunately, this is far from the norm in terms of campuses across the nation. While states like California have passed bills requiring free products both in K-12 schools and universities, the majority of states—including Idaho—have zero laws necessitating free pads and tampons in school bathrooms. If Idaho were to enforce this statewide, class attendance could increase 2.4% according to a New York City pilot program.
Additionally, period poverty and the menstrual cycle need to be better educated in classes and for the public. Because periods are still a taboo subject that is rarely discussed, many find them gross and hard to talk about. Menstrual cycles are natural and all genders deserve to be educated on the subject. By increasing access to free products and education we can enhance people’s comfortability and reduce the hush-hush nature of menstruation.
The goal is period equity: convenient product access for all. In Idaho, there is a project making its way through the state called the Idaho Period Project. Their mission is to make menstrual products available to all in Idaho and end period poverty altogether. Founded in January 2022, they have donated over 300,000 period products across 12 counties in Idaho.
The Idaho Period Project has also installed 95 Aunt Flow product dispensers in schools state-wide. This project is a great start, but another way to make free products available is to have legislation passed to require them in schools, like in California.
Currently, as of June 10, 2024, only 21 states require schools to have products available for students, and Idaho is not one of them. If we want to help lower the number of people in Idaho being affected by period poverty, we need to urge legislators to have laws such as these passed in hopes that no one will have to worry about their period affecting their education.