A New Era in Menstrual Equity: How higher education institutions can lead the way.
Introduction.
All higher education institutions aim to create inclusive and supportive environments. From student centers and extracurricular activities to festive gatherings and community outreach initiatives, universities make many efforts to help students feel safe, represented and welcome.
One more way schools can increase inclusivity and support student well-being is by providing feminine care products in bathrooms — an initiative that is growing in importance and popularity among K-12 and higher education institutions alike.
With recent legislative changes mandating free period products in schools, now is the time for institutions to get ahead of the curve and offer these essential resources to support menstrual equity.
Legislative changes driving the trend.
States across the country are recognizing the importance of menstrual equity and have enacted laws to ensure students have access to free period products. With three bills involving period supplies currently in front of Congress, the conversation around period poverty is becoming more of a hot-button topic.
Some prominent legislation around menstrual equity includes:
California AB 367: Requires all California public schools and universities to provide free menstrual products in their restrooms.1
Illinois HB 156: Mandates that all school districts provide free period products in each bathroom of every school building for grades 4-12.2
New York State Senate Bill S9379: Ensures free period products are available in school bathrooms and homeless shelters.4
Hawaii SB 2821: Guarantees free period products in public school restrooms. 5
Georgia HB 861: Mandates free period products for schools with students in grades 4 -12.6
The trend is proliferating, with more states passing bills requiring schools to offer free period products to students each month. As the trend continues to grow, educational institutions find themselves in a crucial moment to adapt and comply.
