Everyone remembers the sheer panic of not having a pad or tampon when you need one most. This is an experience that unites girls and women, transcending age and backgrounds. This reality was recognized when California passed the Menstrual Equity for All Act in 2021. Yet, despite this act, our schools do not keep any menstrual products stocked up in the dispensers in bathrooms — leaving girls stranded when they most need support.

In middle and high school, when women are just starting to navigate their menstrual cycles, the lack of available menstrual products can be even more daunting. This anxiety interferes with a student's ability to focus on her education, which is why we're calling for legislation that makes it mandatory for middle and high schools to provide these essential items.

According to the World Health Organization, menstrual hygiene is a basic public health need that millions of women in low-income countries struggle with daily. However, this is not just a problem in lower-income countries; it's a problem in our very own schools right here in the United States. According to Always, a leading menstrual hygiene product company, nearly one in five American girls have left school early or missed school entirely because they did not have access to period products.

As a society, we need to ensure that our girls are given all the resources they need to succeed — and that includes access to menstrual products in schools. Making it a requirement that schools regularly keep menstrual products stocked up will help give every girl a peace of mind, allowing her to devote all her energy into her education.

It's time to prioritize menstrual equity in our schools. Please sign this petition to support girls in their education and end the panic caused by a lack of menstrual products in school bathrooms.