We are petitioning to the President of the University of New Hampshire to put free menstrual products in all bathrooms at UNH. Menstrual products are a hygiene necessity just as toilet paper and soap are, which are free in all bathrooms. Anyone who menstruates knows that it is not always predictable and can catch someone off guard and they may not have products on hand, generating a large amount of stress and occasional embarrassment. If these products were in all bathrooms, this issue would be greatly resolved. It is not enough for them to just be located in all the bathrooms, though. They need to be free as well. Those dispensers that require change are not very useful as many people do not happen to carry change into the bathroom with them, let alone in general. No one should not have to go without the products simply because they don't have change on them or at all. Menstrual products are rather expensive and not everyone can afford them, especially college students who usually are struggling with finances anyway. Yet, menstruation is a completely natural part of life that almost half the population experiences (or will experience or has experienced...college students most likely ARE experiencing), and products to help with it are not a luxury, but essential. If colleges can afford to hang out free condoms to everyone, they can find the money to afford free menstrual products as well.
The ALL bathrooms part of this petition is a crucial and non-negotiable piece of this effort. This means in women’s, men’s, and gender-neutral bathrooms in all settings around campus. Providing menstruation products in all bathrooms is about the inclusivity of all people who menstruate because it is not just women who do. Some trans men may menstruate along with other people who are non-binary, genderqueer, or other non-conforming genders. No matter what someone identifies as they deserve the right to access menstruation products along with discrete disposal methods.
Placement of menstruation products in all bathrooms also will help reduce the stigma around periods. Currently, periods are considered to be shameful, gross, and something to be kept to and dealt with by oneself. The underlying problem here is that the patriarchal society views menstruation as a “female issue” and uses it to keep those who do menstruate oppressed. It puts the responsibility of affording and maintaining products to help with it on those who experience it rather than on society as a whole. It makes it an individual issue rather than societal. It claims the products to be a luxury rather than a basic human right. As previously mentioned, menstruation is a very normal, healthy bodily function and the stigma is something that needs to be eliminated. If everyone became accustomed to menstruation products being accessible everywhere I believe this would help alleviate the stigma surrounding periods.
Placing free menstruation products in all bathrooms on the UNH campus would be a huge step towards true equity for everyone who menstruates. If the President does not enforce this, we will continue the fight for this basic human necessity. Giving up is not an option when it is about advocating for fundamental rights.