FROM THE PUBLISHER ’ S DESK
When people with fancy titles gather in summits and conferences , they coin technocratic phrases that are repeated in subsequent summits and conferences . These phrases catch on . They become part of a global vocabulary , looming larger and larger until they occupy our thoughts and convince us of the incredible magnitude of a “ problem ” attached to a particular phrase .
These “ problems ” entail more studies and statistics , resulting in global mandates that governments must follow . They call for the implementation of domestic policies that require the use of public funds . Every taxpayer must chip in .
I am a middle-aged woman but I had never heard of “ period poverty ” until it crawled into policy discussions on Guam . So I did some research . According to studies , girls miss their class during their monthly period because they don ’ t have access to menstrual products , hence “ affecting their education .” ( Hmmn . But doesn ’ t every study conclude that girls perform in school better than boys ? Throughout my primary and secondary school years , girls were consistently in the Top 10 of the class .)
“ Even though menstrual health is a woman ’ s rights and it ’ s a key aspect to achieving gender equality there are still many barriers for menstruators worldwide to overcome before they are able to menstruate with enough knowledge , products and without stigma ,” states a UN article , which labeled “ period poverty ” as “ a worldwide problem .”
According to the 2022 Global Period Poverty Forum , women “ are still facing stigma , discrimination and restrictions simply because they are menstruating ” and that “ despite many efforts to educate young people on menstrual health , the stigma persists .”
This must change , according to forum participants , who called on the entire
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Legislating menstruation
world “ to build collaboration , advocate strongly .” “ We need corporate engagement ,” they said . “ We need to do it together !”
On Guam , this so-called “ worldwide problem ” resulted in the launch of Project Sottera , an initiative to “ make sure that all young women on Guam have access to menstrual products so that they can stay in school , participate in activities , or stay at work during their menstrual cycle .”
“( The Bureau of Women ’ s Affairs ) conducted surveys with the Department of Education nurses and teachers and with DPHSS clients about the need for menstrual products in our public schools and in our community . The results show an overwhelming need ,” according to Project Sottera ’ s website .
As a result , the Guam legislature allotted $ 25,000 to the Guam Department of Education for menstrual hygiene product supply at public schools in fiscal 2024 . “ All public schools on Guam that serve students in grades five through shall provide menstrual hygiene products , such as tampons and sanitary pads , in the nursing or counselor ’ s offices of such schools ; and such products shall be provided to students at no charge to them ,” the budget law states . The same amount is being proposed in fiscal 2025 .
I agree , every school needs to stock up on emergency supply of sanitary feminine products just as every school provides a regular supply of toilet paper , soap and hand sanitizers . But legislating menstruation and mandating mass distribution of feminine products at public schools is the height of the nanny state fever .
Currently , 25 states and Washington , D . C . have passed legislation to help students who menstruate have free access to period products while in school .
It ’ s a slippery slope . Next , conferences will come up with “ dental poverty ,” which would require every government to buy toothpaste for every citizen . Then , “ body odor poverty ,” which would require every taxpayer to chip in for other people ’ s deodorant .
I don ’ t consider myself as belonging in any ideological box , but I find it hard to believe that people can ’ t afford to buy feminine products . If every kid can own an iPhone , then surely , their parents can buy a box of Whisper each month . ( The cheapest brand costs $ 2.49 a pack at PayLess ).
Monthly bleeding is part of a woman ’ s body functions . There is no stigma attached to it . We need pads as part of personal hygiene , like every product that we buy and use in the bathroom . It ’ s everyone ’ s private responsibility that does not need to be dragged into the session hall .
The government needs to build a new hospital , address the growing crime rate on Guam and fix the sorry conditions of public schools , and the Department of Education needs to focus on raising the quality of education . They don ’ t need to get distracted by the Kotex drama .
We live on an island ruled by a woman governor , women senators , women business executives , women journalists and women community leaders . So clearly , menstruation does not bring about “ stigma , discrimination and restrictions ” in this part of the world .
Jane Addams , Jessie Daniel Ames , Susan B . Anthony and Simone de Beauvoir , among other early feminists , have paved the way for our generation to take advantage of opportunities that have opened since the first wave of the feminist movement .
Teaching “ women empowerment ” to young girls begins with teaching them about personal responsibility and overcoming obstacles rather than inculcating a sense of dependence at an early age and introducing the idea that the government must do everything for them .
If we want the government to leave our bodies alone , we should not ask the government to pay for what we put in our underwear .
Happy Women ’ s History Month !
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Mar-Vic Cagurangan publisher @ pacificislandtimes . com
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