Last July, Democratic Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed the Menstrual Dignity Act into law. It requires all student restrooms in the state’s public schools to have free menstrual products – including boy’s restrooms – by the end of the upcoming school year.
This school year, schools are expected to make menstrual products available in at least two bathrooms, selected in part with all-gender access in mind.
“Importantly, this law affirms the right to menstrual dignity for transgender, intersex, nonbinary, and two spirit students by addressing the challenges that some students have managing menstruation while minimizing negative attention that could put them at risk of harm and navigating experiences of gender dysphoria during menstruation,” said a toolkit document regarding the legislation developed by the Oregon Department of Education.
In addition to helping affirm gender identity and protect the safety of students, the law intends to improve equity for students as part of the department’s health and educational justice efforts.
“Research shows that one in four teens have missed class due to a lack of access to menstrual products,” the department explained. “Similarly, one in five students has struggled to afford menstrual products. This disproportionately impacts students of color, students experiencing disabilities, and students experiencing poverty.”
According to Omni Calculator, studies have determined that having a period costs approximately $9 to $10 per month, depending on the country. Expenses include tampons, pads, or menstruation cups, as well as painkillers.
“It was my first PSAT day... We were instructed to leave all our belongings at home... I did not know I was going to be on my period that day... I bled through my pants and all over the seat in an unfamiliar classroom... [with] a male teacher I had never even seen before. Luckily, he let me go to the bathroom, where I was reminded that we do not have tampons or pad dispensers… I roamed the empty hallways… while blood dripped down my legs and onto the floor,” said a student quoted by the Oregon Department of Education.
Around the world, a minimum of 500 million people cannot afford period products every month, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development think tank.
An American Civil Liberties Union brief said that “those experiencing homelessness report infection caused by using tampons and pads for longer than recommended or by improvising with items such as paper towels or newspapers.”
Last Year, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products widely available for free – starting with schools first. Research from the ACLU shows that four states in the U.S. besides Oregon have menstrual equity laws related to schools: California, Illinois, New York and New Hampshire.
State funding was provided in Oregon to help schools offer menstrual products in bathrooms. School districts, public charter schools, education service districts, community colleges and public universities are subject to the new requirement.
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