As school starts to wind back up again and work begins to pile up, there is a constant that still remains in the lives of women: their period. It is difficult to maneuver around periods during school for 7 hours at a time, and would be even more difficult if products weren’t readily accessible at schools itself. Approximately 25% of students struggle to obtain period products, and it has been seen that attendance has gone up 2.4% when free period products are easily offered at schools. However, the world is now going backward in their innovations as Governor DeSantis of Florida has vetoed funding for free pads and tampons from The Menstrual Hygiene Products Grant Program. The program had loads of support so this was a surprise to many, and a Democratic State representative Anna Eskami states that “I just really encourage folks to realize that a budget speaks to our values. And when you veto an item like this, it definitely demonstrates that we don't as a state consider this issue to be important,” demonstrating how much of an impact accessibility makes and how one decision can and will continue to dictate the image Florida holds in the realm of menstrual equity and accessibility. Having period products and others be accessible in school comes with many benefits for all people involved.

Firstly, it allows students to feel more comfortable during school and increases attendance and therefore safety and inclusivity at schools. In addition, it helps foster equality and it has shown geographically that many states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Hawaii require and fund period products in many schools. Furthermore, these period products should be included in all types of schools as many students have different paths in their menstrual journey. 

In all, enabling these laws helps raise awareness for these topics and put these topics as a point of discussion rather than kept as a secret.

Blog Sources: wusf.org, goauntflow.com, allianceforperiodsupplies.org, npr.org

Image Source: Kyo Azuma