At our Victoria Pride low sensory space, we were able to provide free menstrual products, such as reusable underwear (up to xxl), menstrual cups, and reusable pads. This was thanks to our partnership with the United Way Period Promise Campaign. The campaign provided select organizations with free reusable menstrual products and some disposable pads. They were hoping to better understand what impact reusable products can have as part of building long-term solutions. The campaign sought out community organizations who offer support to those demographics that disproportionately experience period poverty in BC: people living with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and families making less than $40,000 a year. They hoped to get some useful information on participants’ experiences using reusable menstrual products, with the goal that the data will inform future policy changes that address period poverty in BC, and ultimately help to better serve our communities.
Visitors to our low sensory space were thrilled with the free reusable products. We had 1 set of friends who walked and 1 of them said “I’ve been trying to talk her into a menstrual cup the entire walk here and now you have them for free! She has no excuse not to try them now.” Her friend explained that cost was the barrier that had them hesitating. They knew in the long-run they’d save on money but it was trying to get the upfront cost that was a struggle.
The campaign’s only ask was for people, who took the free supplies, to do an online survey. We will share the results when it is released.
The feedback we heard included the following:
“Based on conversation, the biggest barriers, for our members, are cost, colour, and perception/bias.
- The majority of disabled people live in poverty and buying menstrual products is expensive and ongoing. A big frustration is that in order to save money by buying reusable underwear, you have to have more money up front, which our members do not have. There was a lot of excitement about the underwear and cups being free as they are unaffordable to many members. Providing them at events is a great way to aid them having access.
- Colour is a big barrier, even within the products provided in the study. Menstrual products are typically in pinks with flowers or other perceived feminine designs. This is a barrier for many trans folks. A person may be male but have a period. They don’t want to carry or use things that may peg them as a gender different to their own. Having menstrual products available in a variety of colours for all genders would be an aid.
- Another barrier is perception and bias. Many people perceive periods, and thus menstrual products, as being for women only. This is untrue. People of all genders have periods and need menstrual products. They may be judged when buying products and/or there may be a lack of menstrual products in the washroom that aligns with their gender. The colours speak of this bias by using feminine perceived colours like pink. Having better education in classes, in bathrooms, and throughout the community would aid to work against these misperceptions and biases.