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Updated on July 5, 2024
Did you know that 1 in 4 students are impacted by period poverty and struggle to afford menstrual hygiene products each month?
Can you imagine having to make the choice between your education or your hygiene needs?
Perhaps you can’t – because period stigma makes this a taboo subject so that non-menstruating decision-makers are left in the dark about what their menstruating students, colleagues, and public washroom visitors need in the way of menstrual hygiene products.
Students of All Ages Need Period Positive Washrooms
Early Onset of Menstruation
Menstruation typically begins around the age of twelve, but it can start anywhere between ages 8 and 15. Many young menstruators are not adequately educated about their bodies and bodily functions, leaving them unprepared for moments of crisis, such as getting their period unexpectedly or starting their period for the first time while at school.
Lack of Comprehensive Sex Education
In America, only 13 states require sex education to be medically accurate. This deficiency means children and teenagers often have to figure out what is ‘normal’ and how to handle their periods without non-judgmental help. Imagine being 12 years old and having to ask for menstrual hygiene products from parents or school staff, and then feeling the need to secretly transport products to the washroom. This cycle must be repeated multiple times throughout the day to prevent odours and leakage.
Health Risks of Infrequent Product Changes
Many young menstruators may not be aware of the health risks associated with infrequent changes of menstrual products. A study conducted by Thinx and PERIOD revealed that 51% of students have worn period products for longer than recommended, which can lead to infections and other health issues.
In fact, as reported by period.org:
- 76% of students are taught more about the biology of frogs than the human female body.
This is period poverty: “the limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation.”
This is a problem, and not just for middle grade and high school students.
Prevalence of Period Poverty in Higher Education
Studies show that 1 in 10 college students are impacted by period poverty, meaning they are financially unable to comfortably afford the menstrual hygiene products they need each month. This statistic underscores a significant societal failure, particularly when 23% of lower-income students must choose between menstrual hygiene products and essentials like clothes or food during their education.
The Role of Companies in Supporting Student Workers
Companies rely heavily on students during busy work seasons, such as summer and Christmas, when more seasoned employees are on holiday.
This dependence spans high school students, student volunteers, student interns, off-season university and college students, and placement students.
As such, companies have a responsibility to ensure that their student workers have access to menstrual hygiene products in workplace washrooms.
The Impact on Productivity and Attendance
A staggering 70% of menstruators have left work or school early to manage their menstrual health needs. For companies focused on maximizing productivity, the benefits of ensuring menstrual hygiene products are readily available in workplace washrooms are clear.
By equipping washrooms with free-vend menstrual hygiene products, companies can minimize lost work hours, increase school attendance, and support young, student employees in a period-positive environment.
Creating Period Positive Spaces in the Workplace
To support student workers and colleagues effectively, companies should:
- Provide Free Menstrual Products: Ensure that washrooms are stocked with free-vend menstrual hygiene products.
- Educate and Advocate: Promote awareness and understanding of menstrual health needs among all employees.
- Foster an Inclusive Environment: Create a supportive and non-judgmental workplace culture regarding menstrual health.
By implementing these measures, companies can help mitigate the effects of period poverty and create a more inclusive and productive work environment for all employees, especially student workers.
By ensuring that washrooms are equipped with free-vend menstrual hygiene products, lost work hours can be minimized, school attendance can be increased and young, student employees can be supported in a period positive space.
Period dignity – Shocking statistics About period stigma
A study conducted by Thinx revealed that 58% of menstruators have felt embarrassed about having their period and 42% have experienced period shaming.
Period stigma results in menstruators isolating themselves out of embarrassment and shame, and missing out on activities in a way that non-menstruators do not experience.
This includes avoiding school due to embarrassment of having no period products on hand, or missing class time in order to track down period products when public washrooms are not equipped.
The same study found that 71% of women have hidden menstruation products on their way to the washrooms, and that 1 in 5 women have felt period shame due to comments made by a male friend.
Despite the stigma and barriers around safe and dignified menstrual health, students are eager to learn more about menstrual health and to help shift the cultural attitudes that surround menstruation. These conversations are happening, and some have even been had on the big screen: read our blog about the Disney-Pixar movie Turning Red, a Period Metaphor.
But there’s still work to be done to improve menstrual health education across the entire population, reduce stigma and support all menstruators with the products and facilities they need.
Student menstruator needs in public washrooms
Young menstruators are often raised to believe they need to protect non-menstruators from the knowledge that they menstruate. This ingrained stigma makes it challenging to normalize the presence of menstrual hygiene products in public washrooms.
According to a Thinx study, 51% of men believe it’s inappropriate for menstruators to mention their menstrual cycles in the workplace. This pervasive stigma affects menstruators of all ages, adding unnecessary stress to their daily lives in both school and office settings.
The Need for Menstrual Product Accessibility
A simple solution to combat this stigma and support menstruators is to ensure that school and office washrooms are equipped with menstrual product vending machines.
These machines should be professionally maintained and refilled regularly to ensure consistent access to sanitary products.
Barriers to Implementation
Despite the clear need, many decision-makers responsible for designing and procuring products for public washrooms in schools, office buildings, and public spaces face challenges:
- Lack of Information: Many are not equipped with the necessary information to prioritize menstrual hygiene products.
- Discomfort with the Topic: Some decision-makers are uncomfortable discussing menstrual hygiene, leading to procurement challenges and inadequate supply.
Essential Supplies for Public Washrooms
To support student menstruators effectively, public washrooms should include:
- Pads and Tampons: These should be available for free through vending machines or dispensers.
- Sanitary Disposal Bins: Easily accessible and regularly maintained bins for the disposal of used products.
- Soap and Hand Sanitizer: Ensuring hygiene after handling menstrual products.
- Educational Signage: Information on proper product use and disposal can help demystify menstruation and reduce stigma.
Through education, advocacy, and support this can change, and there are a number of organizations ready to help including: Aunt Flow, Period.org, Thinx, Citron Hygiene and more.
If you’re reading this blog and are looking for some help to upgrade the menstrual hygiene facilities in your washrooms, reach out to us – we can help, and take care of it all for you!
If you’re uncomfortable talking about menstrual hygiene products, chances are you’re uncomfortable thinking about solutions for menstrual hygiene waste as well. Trust the professionals to keep things clean and safe in your washrooms.
What can you do to start changing period stigma in classrooms?
Citron Hygiene believes that it’s time for businesses to join the #PeriodPositive movement and elevate their menstrual hygiene standards in public washrooms.
For those without personal experience with menstruation, knowing where to begin addressing period stigma can be challenging. Even lifelong menstruators might struggle to envision how to create change for future generations. Here are practical steps to foster a supportive and inclusive environment regarding menstrual hygiene.
Stigma-Changing Behaviors
- Educate and Inform
Decision-makers should actively seek information about the necessity of menstrual hygiene products in public washrooms. Understanding the impact of period poverty and the benefits of accessible menstrual products is crucial for informed decision-making.
- Support Advocacy
Menstruators and allies can support advocacy groups and organizations that fight period poverty and stigma. Joining or contributing to these efforts amplifies the message and supports broader societal change.
- Equip Public Washrooms
Ensure that the public washrooms you manage are equipped with essential menstrual hygiene products. Providing these products supports the comfort and hygiene of all visitors and demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and health.
Practical Actions for Decision Makers
- Conduct Research: Learn about the prevalence and impact of period poverty and the benefits of providing menstrual hygiene products.
- Implement Policies: Develop and enforce policies that prioritize menstrual hygiene in all public facilities.
- Engage in Dialogue: Foster open discussions about menstruation in your organization to reduce stigma and promote understanding.
Empowering Menstruators
- Advocate for Change: Use your voice to support policies and initiatives that address period poverty.
- Educate Others: Share information and experiences to help non-menstruators understand the importance of menstrual hygiene products.
- Create Support Networks: Build or join communities that advocate for menstrual equity and support one another in these efforts.
Let’s change this together.
We want to make creating period positive washrooms as easy as possible for all businesses, so that menstruators around the world soon have access to menstrual hygiene products whenever they need them, wherever they are.
Elevate your washroom experience with Citron Hygiene today.
