The Menstrual Equity Act is a great start, but more work needs to be done

Amaia is a 17-year-old student whose family moved to Hartford from Puerto Rico two years ago. When she started school, she worried about not having books and supplies. Her family needed money for food and to live in the apartment. When her period came, she had no money to buy Maxi pads and didn’t even know how or where to buy them. She missed a lot of school. Embarrassed, Amaia felt students laughing at her. Amaia wanted an everyday school life.

On Sept. 1, all public schools in grades 3–12, as well as colleges, universities, and homeless shelters, must provide free menstrual products in women/girls restrooms, all-gender bathrooms, and at least one men’s restroom. This directly resulted from the Menstrual Equity Act , passed in 2023 to address Period Poverty. Connecticut is one of six states in the United States that mandate free period products to be placed in school restrooms.

The goal of this law is to improve the lives of students and residents of the menstruating population who cannot afford to buy period products.

Period Poverty is the lack of, or uncertain access to, basic menstrual hygiene products due to financial constraints. It is a health equity issue and a public health crisis that impacts the whole person and household: mental health, interpersonal relationships, socio-economic stability, and community connections (participation in hobbies, athletics, religious occasions, etc.) There’s an inseparable link between those who menstruate and their overall well-being.

Nearly 36 % of Americans who menstruate struggle to pay for period products — having to continuously make hard decisions between buying food versus tampons or pads. Furthermore, if a woman or girl cannot access these essential products, she may choose to stay home from school or work. This places a monumental financial and educational burden, impacting self-esteem.

Dignity Grows proudly contributed to the forward-thinking legislation aimed at alleviating the financial pressure and addressing the marginalization of women and girls regarding menstrual health. Our Connecticut-based operation provides direct product support across the state and nationwide in partnership with frontline social services providers such as food pantries, homeless shelters, underserved school communities, and health clinics.

The new law encourages local and regional boards of education to partner with community-based organizations or nonprofits such as ours to help provide menstrual hygiene products for school restrooms. Sustainable funding is needed to support a nonprofit organization now expected to provide for schools’ vital product needs.

We emphasized the legislation must ensure uninterrupted period supplies and adequate financial resources to support organizations that take a well-researched, structured, and organized approach to providing period product resources for those in need.

Students may experience relief with the Menstrual Equity Act, as their school now provides these free products. free products. However, their comfort may be short-lived, as the current funding for these hygiene necessities comes from $1.95 million from the CT Department of Health to one provider.

With many Connecticut schools located in impoverished urban and town districts across the state, with majority-minority socio-economic deficit populations, where will the funding come from to help the hundreds of schools across the state that are required to provide no-cost products consistently, and how will schools accommodate this requirement in the future?

While not required by law, product dispensers are anticipated to impact school systems financially. Many are unaware they are not mandated to install the dispensers, which can cost up to $400 each and are typically product-specific. This can lock a school district into needing to purchase higher-priced items and continually pose a further economic burden. State guidance and clarification are critical to ensure commercial dispenser manufacturers don’t take advantage of any confusion.

Furthermore, high schools often offer only limited access to restrooms; the rise in vaping and smoking marijuana has led many schools to lock or heavily monitor access to restrooms, which decreases or negates the effectiveness of the law’s implementation.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health strongly leads the way with suggestions to schools on how to ensure students do not experience stigma or shame for free access to menstrual products regardless of gender, ability, language, or socioeconomic status. The law and its implementation should align with school curricula for menstruation in sex education. Schools need this support with parental input to empower girls who experience a first-time menstrual cycle.

The law is a tremendous start to embracing menstrual hygiene needs in our state. Dignity Grows looks forward to a future of true change, empowering Connecticut students to learn and grow during their periods and at all times.

Rebecca Carroll is the Flagship Operations Associate for Dignity Grows.