Starting in 2022, schools in the San Mateo Union High School District will supply free pads and tampons in all women’s and all-gender restrooms, at least one men’s restroom and some locker rooms.
“We were notified of the AB 367 Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021 and began soliciting pricing for the product and dispensers,” said SMUHSD General Manager of Operations Jim Hyde. “We are presently tracking use in order to maintain the proper quantity of supplies for the year.”
The Operation Department staff are in charge of maintaining and refilling the 110 dispensers in the district and have already had to deal with vandalism of the dispensers, according to Hyde.
The Menstrual Equity for All Act, introduced by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, requires similar dispensers to be installed in every California public six-12 school, university and community college.
“I played an advocating role in [the AB 367] coalition and told stories of the students I had talked to in my own work during the Education Committee hearing,” said Amanda Safi, former Aragon student and period equity activist. “Everyone really put their heart and soul into making sure that this bill not only got signed into law but was implemented in the most effective way possible.”
The bill cites period products as a basic human right regardless of socioeconomic status. In 2021, nearly one in four students lacked access to period products, according to a survey by the State of Period of over a thousand menstruators. The New York Times calculates that Americans spend nearly $2.8 billion on pads and tampons yearly.
“It’s nice that people who may not be able to afford period products can easily access them now,” said sophomore Ceylon Liu. “Period products are expensive for something that typically gets used once and thrown away.”
Students who menstruate across the country struggle to access period products, which can lead to issues with health and school performance.
“The Menstrual Equity for All Act is a big step towards fighting period poverty,” said junior and Women of the World Club secretary Vaidehi Tenkale. “By making this small change, there is a big impact on those who don’t have the financial means to buy such basic necessities.”
The pandemic further exacerbated inequities in obtaining products. Nearly 16% of students ages 13 to 19 chose to forgo food or clothing to afford period products, according to the State of Period.
For most students, free products are beneficial, especially in urgent situations.
“I’m glad that we finally have free period products at Aragon,” Tenkale said. “Students get stressed about when their period is coming, so having a backup plan … at school is really convenient.”
For sophomore Andrea Lazo Cruz, the new free products might destigmatize the conversation on periods and make everyone more comfortable with discussing them.
“It might make people realize that [periods are] a normal thing,” Lazo Cruz said. “I remember it’s not a fun thing. It’s not, but it’s definitely a normal thing that shouldn’t be ostracized.”
Safi noted that the effects may be subtle, but powerful.
“I think the change may look like a menstruator walking into a bathroom, seeing these new dispensers that were not there before and feeling like their school cares enough about them to provide free period products in the same way they provide free toilet paper for everyone,” Safi said.
California joined seven other states and Washington D.C. to provide support for menstruating students.
“It shows that the national conversation around this issue is increasingly heading toward addressing period poverty at a systemic level,” Safi said. “It means that the movement is growing, and people are listening.”
An additional Menstrual Equity for All Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) in 2021 to the United States Congress to require free menstrual products in all American public schools. The growing movement to support period equity is continuing to make strides in the Aragon community and across the nation.
