By: Bella Martinek, W*SS Social Work Intern
Photo Credit: https://www.wilx.com/2023/01/18/msus-mission-menstruations-adds-free-menstrual-products-campus/
For this week's “Thought of the Day” (TOTD), I want to discuss something that although is cause for celebration, should have happened a long time ago and could frankly go one step further: Michigan State University now provides free menstrual products in all first floor women/gender-neutral bathrooms. This week NPR news story (see WKAR link:https://www.npr.org/2023/09/19/1200291452/should-menstrual-products-for-women-on-college-campuses-be-free) gave their viewers insight about the group of Michigan State University students who set this advancement for people who menstruate in place.
The push for free menstrual products on campus came about five years ago, thanks to a former resident assistant who noticed MSU was in a serious state of period poverty (a term used to describe a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively) (Wikipedia, 2023). While Emily Estrada was attending Michigan State, she realized many buildings offered free condoms but there was nothing when it came to menstrual products. Following the rage of this realization, Estrada (and other students) formed a student group called “Mission Menstruation'' that began offering free period products in heavily populated areas of campus.
For me, this puts my mind at great ease. As a 21 year old woman, I have experienced not being able to locate menstrual products on campus countless amounts of times. One time I was in a very new and popular building and still had no luck finding a tampon, despite there being a QR code in the bathrooms showing me different locations on campus that had menstrual products for students to pick up (provided by Mission Menstruation).
Estrada also mentions her frustrations with the lack of access to menstrual products at the student health center. As someone who visits this center every three months, I can confidently say I resonated with her emotions towards this. When I enter the health center I am sent up to a floor that mainly pertains to the needs of cisgender women. Still, as you sit in the waiting room free condoms are almost thrown at you but menstrual products must be asked for. Perhaps this is just one of the many ways that society has chosen to make people who menstruate feel like their bodily functions are embarrassing or troubling to others. We allow cisgender men to have access to objects that are commonly thought of as discomforting without a word spoken or even a glance. While at the same time cis women, trans men, and non-binary individuals have to vocalize their need for these items, forcing them to let others in on what is currently going on with their body.
With all that has been said, this is a victory for everyone that experiences a menstruation cycle at Michigan State University. I can honestly say this recent change gives me hope that our campus will continue to advance women and gender equity by giving all students the resources they need to live happy and healthful lives.
References
NPR Podcast: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/19/1200291452/should-menstrual-products-for-women-on-college-campuses-be-free
Period Poverty Definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_poverty
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