This year, the junior and senior class councils have stepped up in order to help girls at school. Period products are now being supplied in all of the girls’ bathrooms.
“It is important to supply period products to ensure that students who need them don’t miss much of class, aren’t embarrassed or don’t have to go to the school nurse,” senior class council president Jendayi Gymerah-Oliver said.
Periods can take students by surprise. Not having any period products, having bled through clothes or both is the last thing a female student wants.
On top of that, walking to the nurse takes time out of class and becomes an inconvenience for students.
Providing the resources to let students take care of themselves prevents problems that may arise from unexpected or unprepared periods.
“We want students to be healthy and aware of their bodies, it is completely normal to have a period,” Gymerah-Oliver said.
Periods are a sign of a healthy, functioning body. It is important that periods be recognized and talked about.
It is important to destigmatize periods and to be able to openly talk about them.
“It’s important to be open about periods because it’s something that every girl goes through,” junior class council member Alyssa Akers said. “It’s almost like just eating, sleeping, and breathing. Speaking about periods helps people to get more comfortable in their skin.”
The effort to destigmatize periods creates a more open environment for current and future generations.
“Providing period products in the school is important to me,” Akers said. “I think that girls need more access to feminine products and that going down to the nurse every time you have an emergency is not logical. It is extremely helpful to conveniently have period products right in the bathroom.”
The supplies that the councils provide are as follows: pads, pantyliners, tampons and underwear.
“Darrien Grays houses all of the period products,” Gymerah-Oliver said. “We then go around in groups with our supplies and divide and conquer between all of the girls’ bathrooms in school.”
The class councils go around a couple times a week to keep the women’s bathrooms stocked. Typically, they go during periods four and five.
The class councils have a QR code close to the product bins. These QR codes lead students to a form they can fill out when menstrual products are depleted in the bathrooms.
“I have used the products provided in school before,” junior Elaine Faris said. “I was out of tampons and none of my friends had any. I was bleeding through so I didn’t have much time to find one, but when I walked into the bathroom the period bin was there and I grabbed one. It was a total lifesaver for real.”
The period products have had a positive impact on students who need them. From time saved to embarrassment being avoided, this effort by the junior and senior class councils has helped girls.
“It’s important to talk about periods because they are normal. Periods are nothing to be ashamed of nor are they gross,” Faris said. “Periods are a sign of a healthy body. In the past people were ashamed of periods because they were not as educated as we are now. It’s something all women go through, it’s more or a bonding experience than anything.”
Today, more discussions in the media and activism have normalized menstruation. Public professional websites exist easily providing information to those who need or want it.
Medical professionals have expanded their knowledge on menstruation, leading to help more women be healthier. However, gaps in knowledge and stigma still exist surrounding periods.
