MENSTRUATION GETS A GEN Z MAKEOVER

At the crossroads of period positivity and sustainability, young people are leading a revolution in how to manage our menses. “Young people want alternatives to disposable tampons and pads — and they’re not embarrassed to talk about it.”

(New York Times)

MUSICIAN FREDDIE LEWIS ON DEALING WITH PERIODS AS A TRANS MAN

Trans men who menstruate face a bonus set of challenges, both emotional and practical (e.g., there’s no designated place to dispose of pads in a men’s room). “Cis people tend to forget when they’re talking about periods that there are actually a lot of trans men, non-binary and trans-masculine people who also bleed.”

(BBC News)

STUDENT EFFORTS BRING FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS TO CAMPUS

Student leaders are working to combat “period poverty” at colleges across the U.S., including Northern Arizona University, where free menstrual products will be distributed in 184 gender-neutral bathrooms. The administration has allotted $50,000 annually for product and upkeep. Gen Z, we really do <3 you.

(Arizona Daily Sun)

This period company hid tampons and pads inside cereal boxes to point out how inaccessible period products are

Federal anti-poverty programs WIC and SNAP (AKA food stamps) don’t cover tampons and pads, which is partly why 25% of menstruating teenagers in the U.S. don’t have access to period products. A marketing firm underlined this problem with “Loop Holes,” a fictional breakfast cereal that comes with tampons and pads in every box. We’re ready to put these on our grocery lists, but we’ll settle for letting our representatives in Washington know that tampons and pads should not be classified as luxury products.

(BuzzFeed)

Moms are furious that ‘Turning Red’ introduces periods to their sons

In Pixar’s recent feature “Turning Red,” a giant panda serves as a metaphor for puberty. The movie references menstruation and includes period products in one scene, which has certain parents seeing red.

(MEL Magazine)

Opinion: In prison, having your period can put your life in danger

Nearly a quarter million women are imprisoned in the U.S., and many do not have reliable access to basic hygiene products. This makes incarcerated women susceptible to both health problems and coercion. “Menstrual equity is a human right,” writes epidemiologist and activist Gabrielle A. Perry. “Incarcerated women’s lack of access to menstrual products is a public health and humanitarian crisis.”

(Washington Post)

The current state of the tampon tax—and how we’re going to eliminate it

Classifying tampons and pads as luxury products has tax implications, too. “Because of this tax, [menstruators] in the United States are estimated to spend an additional $150 million per year on menstrual products.” Click through to find out the status of tampon taxation on your state.

(Marie Claire)

Period.org

PERIOD. is a youth-fueled nonprofit that strives to eradicate period poverty and stigma through service, education, and advocacy. Through the distribution of menstrual products, promotion of youth leadership, and championing of menstrual equity in policy, PERIOD. aims to center those disproportionately affected by period poverty and support local efforts for menstrual equity.

The Pad Project

The Pad Project takes a community-based approach to closing the menstrual product gap worldwide. We’re partial to this org in part because it began with a short film, “Period. End of Sentence.,” which won an Oscar in 2019.

Black-led menstrual equity organizations

Organizers across the U.S. and the world are working to close the the horrifying and utterly unnecessary period product gap. There might be one serving your area — try googling “menstrual equity [city/state name]” and see what comes up. If you’re looking for an organization to support, this is a handy list of Black-led initiatives.