EnACT

Free Period Products In All Public Bathrooms

LEAD Facilitator

Pranav Patel '22

LEAD Facilitator

Sam Taylor '21

Document Type

Presentation

Type

EnACT

UN Sustainable Development Goal

UNSDG #5: Gender Equality

Start Date

28-4-2021 9:15 AM

End Date

28-4-2021 9:35 AM

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Five is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” As such, menstruation equity, in the distribution of those products, is necessary amongst all genders. To achieve total gender equality, menstrual products need to be openly available in populated public places like bathrooms. Gender equality needs to encompass and empower all genders and their needs. Even though some women’s bathrooms provide menstrual products, however most of the time they ask for money, we can never find them in men’s restrooms. Within both restrooms, it is imperative to have sufficient, free supply of menstrual products including, but not limited to, pads and tampons. It is extremely inequitable to assume those using a designated “male” restroom do not menstruate. Furthermore, in most public women’s restrooms, in order to use a menstrual product, one would need to pay. However, we should never put a price on a basic human necessity. When promoting gender equality, there should not be a promotion or differentiation between “women” and “men”. Gender is a social construct that contains a spectrum with, at many times, no definitive labels. As such, we propose a straightforward and simple solution: include free menstrual products in all public bathrooms. Thus, this will promote gender equality as anyone will be able to use and dispose of menstrual products in a safe, hygienic, and equitable manner.

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Apr 28th, 9:15 AM Apr 28th, 9:35 AM

Free Period Products In All Public Bathrooms

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Five is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” As such, menstruation equity, in the distribution of those products, is necessary amongst all genders. To achieve total gender equality, menstrual products need to be openly available in populated public places like bathrooms. Gender equality needs to encompass and empower all genders and their needs. Even though some women’s bathrooms provide menstrual products, however most of the time they ask for money, we can never find them in men’s restrooms. Within both restrooms, it is imperative to have sufficient, free supply of menstrual products including, but not limited to, pads and tampons. It is extremely inequitable to assume those using a designated “male” restroom do not menstruate. Furthermore, in most public women’s restrooms, in order to use a menstrual product, one would need to pay. However, we should never put a price on a basic human necessity. When promoting gender equality, there should not be a promotion or differentiation between “women” and “men”. Gender is a social construct that contains a spectrum with, at many times, no definitive labels. As such, we propose a straightforward and simple solution: include free menstrual products in all public bathrooms. Thus, this will promote gender equality as anyone will be able to use and dispose of menstrual products in a safe, hygienic, and equitable manner.