SIGN NOW: End Period Poverty in Minnesota Schools
Minnesota State Legislators
In 21st century America, schools have an obligation to serve all students equitably. Every student deserves the reassurance that their school restrooms are outfitted with necessities to accommodate their biological needs. Yet, for roughly half the US student population, there is a glaring exception to this commitment: menstrual hygiene products.
Menstrual hygiene products are basic necessities, and the inability to access them affects a student’s freedom to study, be healthy, and participate in society with dignity. Studies have shown that when students lack access to menstrual hygiene products they skip or miss class, face embarrassment or objectification because of period stains, and are limited both academically and socially.
Together we can end period poverty and achieve menstrual equity.
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To:
Minnesota State Legislators
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[Your Name]
Interrupted studies. Missed classes. Stunted education. This is the reality for so many students who menstruate, simply because they lack access to readily available and affordable period products.
Free toilet paper and soap are provided in every school bathroom as basic necessities for natural bodily functions. Yet, for students who need period products— more than half the student population — similar resources aren’t provided, and the consequences are profound for individuals and society.
Easy access to period products is necessary for equal opportunity in education. It is a fundamental human right to be able to discover and reach one’s full potential,
regardless of a natural need. Providing free, readily available menstrual products in
public schools is critical to helping all students, especially low-income and transgender students, succeed. If we as a society do not ensure access to menstrual hygiene products we are showing that we do not value students with periods, and are actively perpetuating the harmful effects of period stigma and shame.
As part of our pilot program we are focused on getting menstrual hygiene products into all women’s and gender neutral restrooms in all middle and high schools in the state of Minnesota. We believe that our Minnesota State Legislators are in a unique position to provide care to their students by way of universal access to menstrual hygiene products in all bathrooms.
We, the undersigned, demand that all women’s and gender neutral public middle and high school restrooms in the state of Minnesota must be consistently stocked with both pads and tampons at no cost to students, and have sanitary disposal units within each stall. Measures to ensure that individuals with disabilities are being equally served must also be taken.