In U.S. first, New York City making tampons free in schools

[Little Tich]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Women will get free tampons and sanitary pads in New York City schools, jails and shelters under a first-of-its-kind program whose supporters argue that costly hurdles to feminine hygiene products amount to discrimination.

The program was unanimously approved this week in an array of bills by the New York City Council and awaits the signature of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has said he supports it.

It comes as part of a national debate started by advocates who say many women are unable to afford products that can cost more than $100 a year.

"Menstrual hygiene products are as necessary as toilet paper and should be treated as basic bathroom supplies," said Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, a city council member who championed the measure, in a statement.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-women-sanitaryproducts-idUSKCN0Z82CY

[LuckyLib]

1. If men needed them, they would have been in

bathroom stalls from the dawning of public restrooms.

[anigbrowl]

19. Like the complementary razors in every men's bathroom

Oh wait.

[Cal Carpenter]

21. Because if you don't shave,

you have blood and uterine wall lining coming out of your bodily orifices, staining your clothes and humiliating you, and possibly posing very serious health risks if not dealt with properly.

Oh wait.

[anigbrowl]

22. Neither circumstance is so serious

I'm about as familiar with epic menstruation disasters as you can be without owning a uterus of your own, and while I'm fully supportive of free tampons in every bathroom (and free maxipads and probably free chocolate too if I am being realistic about it) I see no need to make up imaginary faults to project onto others as the poster above did.

[Cal Carpenter]

23. So, you are familiar with Toxic Shock Syndrome?

(Because that's just like running out of chocolate. Oh wait.)

It is a fact that not having proper sanitary pads and/or tampons, or not having enough to change them at reasonable intervals can result in serious infection or TSS. Girls and women of low-income struggle to keep up with this stuff. Go to any domestic violence shelter or homeless shelter for girls and women and ask them what donations they need. Menstrual supplies are at the top of the list. Ask women in prisons what it is like if they don't have money for commissary or any family who can help them get supplies. Ask a neglected tween what it is like to deal with this.

You can compare all that to chocolate or shaving all you want. I'll continue to point out that you are missing the point.

[smirkymonkey]

25. Thank YOU!

Some people are so obtuse when it comes to this issue!

[Lisa0825]

2. This is so wonderful...

I had neighbors when I was in middle school in the 1980s who were a blended family. Mom was American and had kids from a former marriage. New husband was from Iran, and had very disturbing views on women (his sons were actually very nice, so I don't know if it was cultural or if he was just a plain old asshole). Two of the womans's kids were teen girls. The man would not allow her to spend money on "feminine products." He said toilet paper should be good enough for them. My mom used to sneak pads to them.

[smirkymonkey]

26. What a jerk!

Those poor women!

[3catwoman3]

29. How despicably...

...inhumane.

I was once doing a well visit on a young lady in her early teens. She was emotionally and physically mature. She wanted to use tampons, which her mom was fine with, but the dad insisted they ask about it at the pediatric office. I told mom and daughter it was perfectly OK, and also told them they had my blessing to tell him that this decision was none of his business. (My brain said, "none of his damn business, but, of course, I couldn't say that.)

I remember well the feeling of liberation that came with using tampons. The pads and belts of the 60s felt like riding a horse. Totally gross.

[mopinko]

3. once upon a time, i worked construction.

part of my job was handling drawings, etc from contracts to the engineers to make sure they met specs.
there was an office building, and every toilet and faucet had to go through the process. so, when the tampon machine came through, the engineers were asked to set the price for tampons. since they were all guys, they asked me what i thought.
i said- they should be free, just like the toilet paper, paper towels, and soap.
what a concept.
and so it was decided that that was just plain fair.

sometimes, just having women around can make change.

[alittlelark]

5. I Love that story!!!

...sometimes it IS 'Just that simple'.

[mopinko]

10. it did sorta blow my mind at the time.

it was a government building and i have often wondered if it stayed that was.

[Bradical79]

14. Wow, I've been pretty ignorant on the subject

I always assumed that stuff was free in bathrooms just like toilet paper, and paper towels.

[mopinko]

15. this was a workplace bathroom, so

i think that made a difference. not like a restaurant bathroom.

that women in prison have to buy them in so many places really frosts my cookies.

[TeddyR]

4. This is a great idea

I would like to see this instituted nationwide. As well as free lunches for all school students, regardless of need. I have family members who have worked in school meal programs for years and the stores about kids who don't get enough to eat is appalling -- either because the family is barely over the qualification threshold, or the school doesn't provide breakfasts, after school or summer school meals, or the social stigma associated with being that kid who needs "free" meals.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. I agrre with OP and your free lunches for all kids

Growing up, i was on free lunches from time to time. I know the stigma attached, and did skip meals so as to not say i was on the lunch list. I would gladly pay extra property tax for all kids to eat for free. And breakfast, too.

[Feeling the Bern]

6. Long overdue.

[ThingsGottaChange]

7. What???

Something free for women who need these things? Next thing you know, they'll be voting and driving!

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Ha ha!

Thank you, I needed that laugh.

[tblue37]

8. THIS:

"Menstrual hygiene products are as necessary as toilet paper and should be treated as basic bathroom supplies,"

[suffragette]

9. K&R

[Melurkyoulongtime]

11. This is awesome!

I remember my favorite company to work for (a very, very blue Northern company w a location deep in red, red Texas) had 0 cost tampon and pad vending machines in the women's rooms and I was floored that the company cared enough to do something so small but so important to help us thru "those" days. We also had free breakfast and lunch and many, many other perks but that one just got me. Sigh, too bad they merged w another company and of course the new one started taking benefits away from us just as quick as they could though they did still provide the free feminine products when I left there.

[Aristus]

12. Oh no. You just KNOW this is going to encourage young women to go out and get menstrual periods...

Finally, some common-sense decision making regarding public schools.

[Thav]

17. I was looking through expecting to find something

like that, only that such products would lead to more promiscuity among women.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. I love NYC so much

[Hekate]

16. This is great news indeed

[AwakeAtLast]

20. This is so great!

I also wish there was a way to help young girls with the mind numbing cramps. I can't tell you how many tests I had to take while I was in so much pain I thought I would pass out. School nurses were not sympathetic. I started to stay home on those days.

I know, baby steps...

[Raster]

27. I must apologize for being obtuse, but I assumed that such sanitary supplies...

...would be provided in schools. Menstrual hygiene products are as necessary as toilet paper and should be treated as basic bathroom supplies. Period.

[mainer]

28. I'm an older woman who never even thought about how obvious this is

I was used to paying for tampons/pads in those bathroom dispensers. Why didn't it ever occur to me that d'oh! This stuff SHOULD be free!