About Bloody Time: Scotland To Make Menstrual Hygiene Products Free

The Period Products Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament, renders the Scottish government obliged to provide free sanitary pads and tampons to “anyone who needs them”. Schools, colleges and universities would have to provide the products for free in their toilet facilities and Scottish ministers could also call on other public service bodies to do likewise.

Many countries have cut taxes on sanitary products, and Scotland is not the only place to give them out free in schools. But this bill offers the widest provision of pads in the world, costing £24m a year, according to the government. Michelle Fisher, policy officer says, “Even to this day when I’m buying products it still feels like I need to ration myself as an after-effect of being so restricted growing up.” Ms. Fisher shared her experiences in the course of a consultation on a bill that would make Scotland the first country in the world to offer free period products to all women.

This welcome move follows in suit of a socio-economic phenomenon called period poverty. It is defined as the inability of certain sections or classes of women to afford basic menstrual hygiene. Women and young girls who menstruate are ostracized from basic activities, like eating certain foods, or socializing, all over the world. The cultural shame attached to menstruation and a shortage of resources stop women from going to school and working every day. Period poverty hence, as a term, can be extended to define the lack of access to sanitary products (such as sanitary napkins and tampons), menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and, or, waste management.

The fact that menstrual hygiene products and their necessity are being discussed in a serious, thoughtful manner by parliamentarians of all genders represents progress that will improve both accessibility and attitudes. In Scotland, it seems, periods are not "unmentionable." Periods are normal.