Free feminine hygiene products approved for Maine schools

[DonViejo]

Source: The Associated Press


AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A proposal to provide free feminine hygiene products in Maine schools has received a key approval in committee.

The Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the proposal on Wednesday. Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen of Falmouth said the proposal would help students cope with “period poverty.”

Breen said lack of access to feminine hygiene products is a problem for Maine students that often goes ignored. The proposal protects donors of menstrual products from liability so they can give the products to schools and nonprofit groups without facing risk. That will get the products into schools without costing the state or schools money, Breen said.

One in five teenagers has had difficulty affording period products, Breen said. The proposal will now go before the full Maine Legislature for votes.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/maine-d4cf12e04c015ad429621b0be2585953

[Warpy]

1. This is really good news

Once you get away from the cities, you'll find incredible poverty in Maine, enough that girl;s skip school days every month because a pack of rags isn't enough to stop the flow and allow them to attend school.

This isn't just Maine, either, Poverty that grinds girls and women down hardest can be found all over this country.

It's not like bulky, generic pads are going to be abused. This is something that could and should be provided in schools so girls can attend no matter what time of month it is.

[Hekate]

2. Excellent news and long overdue everywhere

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. Why is this only now a thing?

If men menstruated, you'd get tampons with your meals at McDonalds.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. We sure would. And, we'd ask for "Super Sized".

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. so true

[Mike Nelson]

4. Wow...

... can't believe this is not already in place everywhere. Kids should be able to pick up what's needed at the health or nurse's office... in Maine and everywhere!

[KatK]

7. "Menstrual products" is a better phrase than "feminine hygiene products" because

"Menstrual products" is a better phrase than "feminine hygiene products" because

(1) It's refers to menstruation - a life-giving, natural process! - directly rather than trying to hide it with a euphemism.

(2) "Feminine" implies girls and women but
* Not all women bleed (notably in this context, trans girls and women)
* Some who bleed are not women (e.g., some non-binary people and some trans boys and men

(3) "Hygiene" and "sanitary" are words that manufacturers of disposable products used to imply that menstruation is unhygienic and unsanitary. And in the early and mid-20th century especially, this was linked to unkept, dirty, slovenly, low-class and disreputable. So people who menstruate in short order stopped using homemade, inexpensive, healthy, good-for-the-earth re-usable cloth "napkins" in favor of disposable.

This is not a critique of the post. And I love that menstrual products are going to be available for Maine students.

I just had an urge to say a few words on this topic.

[twodogsbarking]

8. In case you aren't aware this guy is great.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachalam_Muruganantham

[Grins]

9. Now has to go to the full state legislature???

What year is this?